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Shakespeare's works /

Frequently asked questions about Shakespeare's works

How many plays did Shakespeare write?

Thirty-eight is the generally accepted number, though recent claims have been made for King Edward III and some scholars would include part of Sir Thomas More. Another play, Cardenio, has not survived.

What is Shakespeare’s earliest play?

Which play did Shakespeare write first? His earliest play is probably one of the three parts of King Henry VI (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), written between 1589–1591.

What is Shakespeare’s last play?

His last play is probably The Two Noble Kinsmen, which Shakespeare co-wrote with John Fletcher around 1613.

What is Shakespeare’s longest play?

Hamlet, with 4,167 lines, according to the line count for the Folger Shakespeare edition of the play.

What is Shakespeare’s shortest play?

The Comedy of Errors, with 1,898 lines, according to the line count for the Folger Shakespeare edition of the play.

How many words did Shakespeare write?

According to Marvin Spevack’s concordances, Shakespeare’s complete works consist of 884,647 words and 118,406 lines. However, counts may differ based on the criteria of what is included.