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Coming up with original ideas for plot of plays was not Shakespeare's strong suit. He generally used a story idea he had read about and dramatised it. Sometimes he used passages from his sources with very little change (e.g. the description of Cleapatra's barge in Antony and Cleopatra; the explanation of Henry V's claim to the throne of France in Henry V) but what changes he did make were invariably improvements. The description of Cleopatra's barge in the original is clunky and dull; when Shakespeare was done with it, it sparkled.

Why did he do this? Presumably he felt that it was pointless to reinvent the wheel; why invent a second-rate plot when you can use a great one that already exists? Shakespeare was an expert in creating great dialogue and great characters out of these stale stories. Thank heaven he did copy them! Our ideas about copyright and originality would have prevented the greatest literature in the world from being written.

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Q: Why did shakespeare copy other works?
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Why is it that in one copy of the completed works of Shakespeare measure for measure has five scenes in the first act instead of four?

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Where are William Shakespeare's works displayed at?

Shakespeare's works are displayed in the Shakespeare section of any reputable bookstore.


Did someone else write all of William Shakespeare's works?

Shakespeare didn't write most of his work down, and was transcribed by spectators of the audience who wrote down what was happening. But Shakespeare is the author of his works, but probably did join with other writers.


What inspired Shakespeare's writing?

Works form other great writers were Shakespeare's inspiration. Among them were Geoffrey Chaucer and?æPlutarch. Among his great works are A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest.


Where did Shakespeare's works come from?

Shakespeare's pen.


How many of Shakespeare's works can be categorized?

All of them. They all fall into the category "Shakespeare's Works."


When did Shakespeare produce his works?

Shakespeare wrote his works between 1590 (approximately) and 1613 when he retired.


When was Early texts of Shakespeare's works created?

Early texts of Shakespeare's works was created in 1603.


Apart from plays what other types of pieces did William Shakespeare write?

Shakespeare was also an accomplished poet, with his works including sonnets and narrative poems.


Who supposedly wrote Shakespeare's plays?

It was William Shakespeare. Some people argue that some of his works should be attributed to other writers, but there is little to justify this.


What does complete works mean in Shakespeare's term?

The complete works of William Shakespeare are a collection of his plays and sonnets.


What langUAGE WAS Shakespeare wrote in?

Shakespeare is from England; his works are in English.