The Shakespeare Initiative
It's not the Shakespeare you remember from school . . .
The Shakespeare Initiative
Randolph, NJ
Shakespeare's Works
Despite much scholarly argument, it is often impossible to date a given work by Shakespeare precisely. There is, however, a general concensus. The following list of dates of composition is based on external and internal evidence, on general stylistic and thematic considerations and a 1598 list of many of Shakespeare's plays then extant by Francis Meres.
1589-92 HENRY VI, Part 1
1589-92 TITUS ANDRONICUS
1589-94 THE COMEDY OF ERRORS
1590-92 HENRY VI, Part 2
1590-93 HENRY VI, Part 3
1590-94 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
1590-94 THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA
1590-95 EDWARD III
1592-94 RICHARD III
1593-97 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
1594-96 KING JOHN
1594-96 ROMEO AND JULIET
1595-96 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
1595-96 RICHARD II
1596-97 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
1596-97 HENRY IV, Part 1
1597-98 HENRY IV, Part 2
1597-1601 THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR
1598-99 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
1598-1600 AS YOU LIKE IT
1599 HENRY V
1599-1600 JULIUS CAESAR
1599-1601 HAMLET
1600-02 TWELFTH NIGHT
1601-02 TROILUS AND CRESSIDA
1601-02 ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
1603-04 MEASURE FOR MEASURE
1603-04 OTHELLO
1605-06 KING LEAR
1605-08 TIMON OF ATHENS
1606-07 MACBETH
1606-07 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
1606-08 PERICLES (probably revised by Thomas Middleton)
1608 CORIOLANUS
1608-10 CYMBELINE
1609-11 THE WINTER'S TALE
1611 THE TEMPEST
1612-13 CARDENIO (probably written in collaboration with John Fletcher)
1612-13 HENRY VIII (probably written in collaboration with John Fletcher)
1612-14 THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN
(probably written in collaboration with John Fletcher)
The Shakespeare Initiative
Randolph, NJ
