8-5Histories

Answers Prepared by Janel L. William Shakespeare’s plays are divided into three different categories, Histories, Tragedies, and Comedies. Histories are plays that were based on historical events or people. To the people, Histories were favored, and the most popular. According the “Essential Shakespeare Handbook”, they often resemble the political propaganda of the Elizabethan. The actors in these histories were some of the most skilled and talented in this time. They also had roles in Shakespeare’s Tragedies. Actors were required to have strong acting voices and be able to make exaggerated gestures or movements. On the webpage, William Shakespeare: History Play, it states the first performances and the dates of historical plays by Shakespeare were, King Henry IV Part 1: 1597-98, King Henry IV Part 2: 1597-98, King Henry V: 1598-99, King Henry VI Part 1: 1592 March 3, King Henry VI Part 2: 1592-93, King Henry VI Part 3: 1592-93, King Henry VIII:1612-13, King John: 1596-97, Richard II: 1601 February 7, Richard III :1600-01. King Henry VI part 1,2, and 3 were also the first printed historical plays be Shakespeare. On 1623 dates released to the public about the First Folio which included several of these. Many of Shakespeare’s Histories are considered to be his most important plays. They all focus on a person that had an impact on the people in Elizabethan times. Shakespeare researched for the plot and extra background knowledge to write the plays. These were considered the most popular because they had interesting facts, the actors were very professional, and they were just one of the many popular things to do in the 16th century.

Works Cited: Doyle, John. Shakespeare for Dummies. 1. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, 1999.

Print. (74,79-81

"William Shakespeare: History Plays." 2003. [shakespeare-history-plays.htm|http://www.globe-theatre.org.uk/william- shakespeare-]

[shakespeare-history-plays.htm| history-plays.htm].