GENRES

Shakespearean critics have broken

the plays into four categories:

Tragedies Comedies Histories Problem

Plays

Despite their category's name, Shakespeare's so-called

Shakespearean tragedies are
Shakespearean comedies are, on Shakespearean histories are not "problem plays" are plays that
plays with somber themes and historically accurate. While the
the whole, more light-hearted do not fit into any of these three
dark endings. Tragic conventions histories are set in Medieval England
pieces. The point of these plays categories. Although most of his
used by Shakespeare feature the and explored class systems of that
may not necessarily be to make time, Shakespeare was not trying to
tragedies contain comic
death and destruction of well-
the audience laugh, but to think. depict the past authentically. He used elements, and most of his
meaning people brought down
Comedies feature the clever use historical events as a base but comedies have bits of tragedy,
by either their own fatal flaws or
of language to create wordplay, developed his own plot based on the problem plays shift rapidly
the political machinations of prejudices and social commentaries
metaphors, and smart insults. between truly dark events and
others. of his time. comic material.
ELEMENTS