ABSTRACT
The acknowledged fact that Shakespeare was a genius cannot by itself explain his literary greatness; even an unsurpassed natural gift for writing does not account for the range and variety of effects which he achieved in the use of words. A close reading of the plays will show that he was continually striving to improve and extend his mastery, repeatedly trying new methods and seeking to perfect new forms of expression. As a result, he achieved a style (or styles) of writing so flexible as to allow an unparalleled range of literary effects. The present chapter will treat the major stylistic developments of Shakespeare’s prose and poetry over the years of his dramatic career, while the next will discuss representative techniques in his writing, and the last of the three chapters on style will consider decorum, or the suitability of words and techniques to specific dramatic effects.
