Two Gentlemen of Verona is thought to be the first play written by Shakespeare. It was first published in the 1623 Folio but thought to have been composed in 1590–91.
The Taming of the Shrew may have been written in 1592 or earlier, but it was also first published in the 1623 Folio.
The Tragedy of King Richard the Third, with a first printing in 1597, was probably first performed in 1592–93.
The First Part of the Contention of the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster (The Second Part of Henry VI) was probably composed about 1594.
The Comedy of Errors, although not published until 1623, was presumably written much earlier and was first performed in 1594.
Titus Andronicus, the first of Shakespeare’s Latin plays, the revenge tragedy, was printed in 1594.
The First Part of Henry the Sixth is often attributed to multiple authors, and there are no printed editions prior to the 1623 Folio, but the play is thought to have been performed for the first time in 1594–95.
Richard Duke of York (3 Henry VI) was first printed in 1595.
Love’s Labour’s Lost followed in 1594–95 and was followed by Love’s Labour’s Won, which survives only in a small fragment.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream may have been performed as early as 1595, although it was not printed until 1600. The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, first published in 1597, is also thought to have been composed in 1595. Both plays offer contrasting views of love and marriage.
While it was not published until 1623, The Life and Death of King John is usually dated at about 1596.
The Tragedy of King Richard the Second followed, but this play, whose abdication scene was said to have been deleted during the lifetime of Elizabeth I, was not printed until 1597.
Because of its perceived anti-Semitic content, The Merchant of Venice has been surrounded in controversy, but when it was first registered in 1598, its content simply reflected accepted views.
Shakespeare turned once again to history for inspiration with the composition of The History of Henry the Fourth (1 Henry IV), first printed in 1598.
A comedy appeared next with the composition of The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1597–98.
Although not printed until 1600, Shakespeare probably wrote The Second Part of Henry Fourth immediately after he finished the first play in the sequence.
As he had done in the past, Shakespeare penned a comedy after the historical play, this time Much Ado About Nothing, probably composed in 1598.
The Life of Henry the Fifth soon followed in 1599.
Another history followed, but this time Shakespeare turned to early Roman history for inspiration. Although The Tragedy of Julius Caesar was not published until 1623, its composition is thought to be 1598–99.
With the composition of As You Like It, probably in 1599, Shakespeare recalls the influences of earlier pastoral poetry; however, this comedy marks the end of the playwright’s light romantic comedies.
