When did William Shakespeare write Troilus and Cressida?
William Shakespeare began writing the play in 1602. The text suggests he may have composed it around 1600 or 1602 before revising it heavily shortly before printing.
Questions about Troilus and Cressida
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What are the two main literary traditions that form Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare?
The play draws from Homer's Iliad for its war narrative and Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde for its chivalric romance. These distinct threads operate independently until Shakespeare forces them together on stage.
How was Troilus and Cressida classified in the First Folio of William Shakespeare works?
The First Folio classed the work as a tragedy under the title The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida. Editors placed it between histories and tragedies possibly due to typesetting delays, while the quarto edition labels it a history play called The Famous Historie of Troylus and Cresseid.
Who entered Troilus and Cressida into the Register of the Stationers Company?
James Roberts entered the play into the Register of the Stationers Company on the 7th of February 1603. Two separate quarto editions appeared in 1609 with Richard Bonian and Henry Walley re-registering the play on the 28th of January 1609 before issuing these versions.
Why did public performances of Troilus and Cressida remain sparse until the twentieth century?
Public performances remained sparse because premodern readers rarely saw the play performed and its bitter nature failed initially in the original playhouse. Political conflicts revived interest later when productions like Peter Holland's noted European powers arming themselves for conflict.