Question

9 . Summarize the periods of Shakespeare′s literary career . Shakespeare′s literary career can be divided into fourperiods .1) Period of Early Experimentation:This period is marked by youthfulness and exuberanceof imagination, by extravagance of language, and by thefrequent use of rimed couplets with his blank verse . It isthe period of apprenticeship in which he made over oldplays or wrote new ones largely in imitation of other men .The main plays written in this period are: “Love′s Labour′sLost”, “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, “Richard Ⅲ”.But thetypical works of this period are his early poems, such as,“Venus and Adonis”and“Lucrece”.2) Period of Rapid Growth and Development:In this period, which dated from 1595 to 1600,Shakespeare excelled all his contemporaries in historicalplays and romantic comedies . Owing to the prematuredeath of his rivals, or their withdrawal from drama, Shake-speare reigned as master at first with no one to challenge hissupremacy . The main plays written during this period are“A Midsummer Night′s Dream”, “ The Merchant ofVenice”,“As You Like It”,“Richard Ⅱ”,“Henry Ⅳ”,“Romeo and Juliet”and“Julius Caesar”.3) Period of Gloom and Depression:This period, which dated from 1600 to 1607, marksthe full maturity of his power, it was devoted largely totragedies . In this period Shakespeare produced his mostpowerful works . In depth of thought, in searching analysisof human motive, in the expression of the profoundest feel-ings, his tragedies make one of the most magnificent cre-ations of the human mind .The main tragedies of this period are“Hamlet”,“Oth-ello”,“King Lear”and“Macbeth”.During this period, Shakespeare also wrote hissonnets, in which he expressed his personal disappoint-ment .4) Period of Calm after Storm:This period marks the last few years of Shakespeare′s literarywork . His last few years (1608—1613) had neither the lightness ofthe beginning nor the sombre violence of the middle period of his ca-reer . They had a spirit of serenity, and optimism .Shakespeare againturned to comedies . His best plays produced in this period are“TheWinter′s Tale”,“The Tempest”.But these plays all show a falling off from his previous work .

Accepted Answer

Part Ⅳ The Renaissance

正面	9 . Summarize the periods of Shakespeare′s literary career .
《》	Part Ⅳ The Renaissance
背面	Shakespeare′s literary career can be divided into four periods . 1) Period of Early Experimentation: This period is marked by youthfulness and exuberance of imagination, by extravagance of language, and by the frequent use of rimed couplets with his blank verse . It is the period of apprenticeship in which he made over old plays or wrote new ones largely in imitation of other men . The main plays written in this period are: “Love′s Labour′s Lost”, “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, “Richard Ⅲ”.But the typical works of this period are his early poems, such as, “Venus and Adonis”and“Lucrece”. 2) Period of Rapid Growth and Development: In this period, which dated from 1595 to 1600, Shakespeare excelled all his contemporaries in historical plays and romantic comedies . Owing to the premature death of his rivals, or their withdrawal from drama, Shake- speare reigned as master at first with no one to challenge his supremacy . The main plays written during this period are “A Midsummer Night′s Dream”, “ The Merchant of Venice”,“As You Like It”,“Richard Ⅱ”,“Henry Ⅳ”, “Romeo and Juliet”and“Julius Caesar”. 3) Period of Gloom and Depression: This period, which dated from 1600 to 1607, marks the full maturity of his power, it was devoted largely to tragedies . In this period Shakespeare produced his most powerful works . In depth of thought, in searching analysis of human motive, in the expression of the profoundest feel- ings, his tragedies make one of the most magnificent cre- ations of the human mind . The main tragedies of this period are“Hamlet”,“Oth- ello”,“King Lear”and“Macbeth”. During this period, Shakespeare also wrote his sonnets, in which he expressed his personal disappoint- ment . 4) Period of Calm after Storm: This period marks the last few years of Shakespeare′s literary work . His last few years (1608—1613) had neither the lightness of the beginning nor the sombre violence of the middle period of his ca- reer . They had a spirit of serenity, and optimism .Shakespeare again turned to comedies . His best plays produced in this period are“The Winter′s Tale”,“The Tempest”.But these plays all show a falling off from his previous work .

Period Plays Shakespeare′S Literary Main Shakespeare Tragedies Career