Download or read book The History Plays and Poems of William Shakespeare written by Britannica Educational Publishing and published by Britannica Educational Publishing. This book was released on 2012-12-01 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Before Shakespeare, few dramatists had used historical figures as characters in a play, or actual historical events as elements of a plot. Likewise, the Bard was a pioneer of the sonnet, which he took to new heights. Both literary form, including his two historical tetralogies, and his narrative poems, in addition to the particular form of sonnet that now bears his name are examined through engaging text. A brief treatise on the music within and accompanying productions of Shakespeare’s plays rounds out the coverage.