Shakespeare’s histories cover the reigns of kings Richard II and III, John, and Henry IV, V, VI, and VIII.
But he changed some facts to make the stories more exciting. His kings all have huge personalities. But they are not always good rulers. Richard II wasted the national treasury, and Henry IV fought rebel noblemen. However, Shakespeare’s last history play, Henry VIII, ends with the happy birth of Elizabeth.
Shakespeare’s sonnets were written during the same early period as most of his histories. They are written in the first person, which means the writer uses “I” and “me.” He shared them only “among his private friends.” People look for clues to Shakespeare’s life in his sonnets. They are especially interested in the identities of the noble young man and the Dark Lady. In the sonnets, as in the plays, Shakespeare used a popular form of art. But he did it better than anyone else!
