What inspired Shakespeare?Shakespeare's biggest influence was the work of other writers. With the exception of "Midsummer Night's Dream", "Love's Labour Lost", and "The Tempest", which were all original stories, Shakespeare borrowed plots to the finest detail. Shakespeare's two most favourite authors include Geoffrey Chaucer and Plutarch. If you draw the connections, Shakespeare's plot from plays can be traced back to other writers.
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Examples of Shakespeare "borrowing" ideas
Shakespeare borrowed many ideas from his favourite poets, but do you recognize any of these?
Mercuto's Queen Mab Speech in "Romeo and Juliet"
Shakespeare's script for the Queen Mab speech draws very close resemblance to Geoffrey Chaucer's "Parliament of Fowles"
"Romeo and Juliet" as a whole
The whole plot of "Romeo and Juliet " is based on a 3,000 line verse drama written by the poet Arthur Brooke in 1562 but the story of the doomed lovers were first brought up by the Italian author Luigi Da Porto who gave the lovers the names "Romeo and Guiletta". hi
Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, and Timon of Athens
Shakespeare used Timothy North's translation of these people. He also copied WHOLE passages with little to none changes.