Frequently Asked Questions | The Folger SHAKESPEARE

What is Shakespeare’s earliest play?

His earliest play is probably one of the three parts of King Henry VI (Part 1, Part 2, and Part ...

How did men cover up their beards if they played women’s roles in Shakespeare’s theater?

Usually boys and young men played women’s parts on stage, so there was no problem about beards...

What were the different ticket costs to go to a play in Shakespeare’s time?

Prices of admission depended on the kind of theater. Outdoor theaters like the Globe charged one pen...

Were there any other editions of the First Folio?

Four folio editions of the plays were published during the 17th century: First Folio – 1623 Second...

Who has the most First Folios?

The Folger Shakespeare Library has 82 First Folios, the most in one collection. Meisei University in...

How many First Folios still exist?

The easiest answer to this question is 235. Anthony West counts 232 in his 2001 census of First...

What are folios and quartos?

“Folio” and “quarto” refer to the number of times a sheet of paper has been ...

How were Shakespeare’s plays published before the First Folio?

Many of the plays were published during Shakespeare’s lifetime as individual plays in a q...

What is the “First Folio”?

The First Folio is the first comprehensive collection of Shakespeare’s plays, containing 36 ...

What is Shakespeare’s shortest play?

The Comedy of Errors, with 1,898 lines (as per the Folger Shakespeare Edition; other editions may co...

What is Shakespeare’s longest play?

Hamlet, with 4,167 lines (as per the Folger Shakespeare Edition; other editions may count lines diff...

What is Shakespeare’s last play?

His last play is probably The Two Noble Kinsmen, which Shakespeare co-wrote with John Fletcher arou...

When and where was Shakespeare born?

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in 1564. The exact date of his birth isn’...

How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Thirty-eight is the generally accepted number, though recent claims have been made for King Edw...

Did Shakespeare write the plays and poems attributed to him?

Some have argued that a more noble writer was secretly behind the works attributed to Shakespeare; t...

Did Shakespeare have a coat of arms?

Yes, William’s father, John Shakespeare, was granted a coat of arms in 1596. It was disputed i...

Does Shakespeare have descendants?

William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway had three children. The eldest, Susanna, was baptized on May 2...

What is the inscription on Shakespeare’s grave?

GOOD FREND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE,TO DIGG THE DUST ENCLOASED HEARE:BLESTE BE Ye [the] MAN Yt [that]...

When did Shakespeare die?

Shakespeare died on April 23, 1616 and was buried on April 25, 1616 in Holy Trinity Church, Str...

What did Shakespeare’s son die of?

We don’t really know how Shakespeare’s young son Hamnet died. He had a twin sister named...

Why did Shakespeare leave his wife his “second best bed”?

William Shakespeare wrote in his last will and testament, dated March 25, 1616, “Item I gyve u...

Who was Shakespeare’s wife?

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway near the end of 1582, when he was 18 years old. The exact da...

Who were Shakespeare’s parents and siblings?

Shakespeare’s parents were John and Mary (neé Arden), who were married in about 1557. W...

What was Shakespeare’s education?

He likely attended the local grammar school, beginning at age 7, although he probably had learned hi...