ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on William Shakespeare's drama rather than his poetry, partly because the plays are where the majority of the energy of Shakespeare studies is expended, but also because Shakespearean drama's combination of plot, poetry, and personation before a live audience complicates what has traditionally been understood as a source. Drama, an oral art and embodied practice that leaves some textual traces, is "transmitted by other than merely textual means," raising questions of evidence and creating uncertainty and thus space for interpretation. Oral culture formed a significant knowledge base for both Shakespeare and his audiences, and attending to sources that were communicated orally can enhance our understanding of cultural dynamics in Shakespeare's plays. The book also helps scholars to think more precisely about the varying textures of the relationships between Shakespeare's works and other texts.
