The Greenwood Companion to Shakespeare: A Comprehensive Guide for Students (In 4 Volumes)

Designed and written to meet the needs of students, this 4-volume set clearly and thoughtfully introduces the genres and major works that constitute Shakespeare’s formidable canon. Each volume is devoted to a particular genre and within each volume are essays on particular works. These essays provide plot summaries, analyses of themes and characters, and discussions of historical contexts. In addition, the essays offer detailed explications of key passages, thus illuminating Shakespeare’s most critical yet challenging material. The organization of this companion underscores the relationships among characters and plays and encourages students to engage in comparative studies and critical thinking. In addition this volume explores the sonnets in a lengthy essay and individually profiles 33 of the most studied ones.