SHAKESPEARE'S MYSTERY

1. MYSTERY THREE

The Baconian Theory
You will begin your WebQuest by researching Sir Francis Bacon and learning about his life.  Using the sites below, write down five major points to tell your classmates.  You may want to include information about his birth, childhood, adult life, death, what he did for a living, any major known works he wrote (if any) and/or his education.  For this part, don't worry about finding information for or against the theory that he was Shakespeare.  Instead, your goal here is to know enough about him to give your classmates a biography of his life. 
The Biography Channel is a good source of information about Sir Francis Bacon.  They have put together an excellent biography.  Note especially the sections "Philosopher of Science" and "Writing Career." 
Next, consider Luminarium's biography of his life (found here: http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/bacon/bio.php).  They've gathered information from three literature anthologies that are all well-known.  You'll find the last few paragraphs interesting, I think. 
Another good resource you'll want to check out is from the University of Stanford.  They maintain excellent information about scientists, so in addition to a biography of his life, they give information about his scientific endeavours.  Feel free to browse as you see fit!  Just remember, you need to be able to tell your classmates about whatever you find, so if you find something important that's really technical, make sure you can explain it to them!
Now that you know more about Sir Francis Bacon's life, we can begin to focus on the theory that he authored Shakespeare's works. 
First, take a look at The Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable website (found here: http://www.shakespeareauthorship.org/authors/bacon.html)   They offer information on many possible authors.  What particular evidence do they cite that points to Bacon as Shakespeare?  You'll want to be knowledgeable on the Northumberland Transcript. 
What information do the interviewees in The Shakespeare Enigma (find the video in the last link under "Marlovian Theory") give to prove Bacon as the author of Shakespeare?  In order to view this link, you'll need a username and password, which you can find on the whiteboard.  View the segments titled "Francis Bacon: the Real Shakespeare?" and "Evidence in Favor of Bacon as the Real Shakespeare."  Note especially the information about Bacon's controversial parentage and the connection the White Hart Inn has to Shakespeare.
You'll also find pro-Bacon information from the Francis Bacon Research Trust (found here: http://www.fbrt.org.uk/pages/essays/essay-secret%20shakespeare.html).  Do they state that what information from the monument in Stratford-upon-Avon links him to Shakespeare?  Why would a monument there be such a strong link, you think?  What "code" from Love's Labour Lost do they include?  
There is also considerable reason to doubt that Bacon was the true author of Shakespeare.  Now, you'll take a look at information about Bacon as Shakespeare.
Visit the Shakespeare Authorship Page's information on Baconian Code (found here: http://shakespeareauthorship.com/bacpenl.html).  What are Baconian codes, and why is there doubt about them?  You'll need to read the sections titled "Introduction," "Penn Leary's Baconian Ciphers" and "How Many Ways are there to spell 'Bacon'?" 
The website DoubtaboutWill.org offers an astonishingly lengthy number of questions doubting William Shakespeare as the author of Shakespeare.  They provide a number of questions regarding authorship with responses from scholars.  One such question pertains to Bacon.  Why does Professor Alan Stewart question Bacon as Shakespeare?  The question he answers is number 45, and since this is a pdf, you can find a link to question 45 on page 3 of the document.  
Lastly, view the Shakespeare Fellowship website.  The group is devoted to the theory that Edward de Vere (whom you will learn about shortly) authored the text, but they have published a bit of information on why Bacon could not have authored Shakespeare's works.  Why do they say Bacon could not have written the texts? Look under section 5: "Why not Bacon, Marlowe, or Derby?" to find out.

1. Do we really know who Shakespeare was?

http://www.williamshakespearefacts.com/did-he-write-his-plays.html

2. What is also said about him?

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-william-shakespeare

http://www.buzzfeed.com/simoncrerar/things-you-did-not-know-about-william-shakespeare#.igY9j80zx

http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/23/here-are-eight-bizarre-and-little-known-facts-about-shakespeare-5163283/

3. What did he do between 1585 and 1592?

https://politicworm.com/oxford-shakespeare/to-be-or-not-to-be-shakespeare/why-not-william/the-authorship-question-2/

4. Is this what Shakespeare looked like?

http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1883770,00.html

5. Has the mystery of Shakespeare’s Sonnets finally been solved?

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jan/31/shakespeare-sonnets-mr-wh-dedication-mystery

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2934875/Has-identity-Shakespeare-s-mystery-Mr-W-H-finally-proven-Researcher-reveals-new-theory-debate-dedication-playwright-s-sonnets.html

6. What is the Shakespeare authorship question?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare_authorship_question

http://shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/discover-shakespeare/

https://doubtaboutwill.org/declaration

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/10/did-shakespeare-really-write-his-plays-a-few-theories-examined

7. What is the Honourable Order of the Knights of the Helmet? What were they also called?

http://fbrt.org.uk/pages/essays/Bacon-Shakespeare_Timeline.pdf

http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2011/10/did-shakespeare-really-write-his-plays-a-few-theories-examined/2

http://noticias.universia.es/actualidad/noticia/2014/05/12/1096419/william-shakespeare-pseudonimo-francis-bacon.html

8. What is the Baconian Theory of Shakespeare’s Works?

http://fbrt.org.uk/pages/bacon_history.html https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teor%C3%ADa_baconiana

9. What does the Baconian society hold?

http://blog.europeana.eu/2013/01/francis-bacon-shakespeare-and-secret-societies/

http://www.ross-jackson.com/rj/books/22400/22605/22674/

http://www.anonymous-shakespeare.com/cms/

10. What do you think about all this? Are you a Stratfordian? https://sites.google.com/a/winnetka36.net/authorshipconspiracy/stratfordian

http://shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/famous-shakespeare-authorship-skeptics/

2. MYSTERY FOUR

The Oxfordian Theory, or "ShakesVere"

You'll begin your WebQuest by researching Edward de Vere. Using the sites below, write five major points to tell your expert group members about de Vere. You may want to include the dates of his birth and death, what he did for a living, any significant works he authored (if any), his education, and/or anything else you find to be of importance. For this step, don't worry about evidence that links him to Shakespeare. Your goal here is to know enough about de Vere to give your classmates a brief biography of his life.

• Luminarium is a website devoted to various authors of English literature. It offers a great overview of Edward de Vere's life.
• Next, consider Concordia University, Portland. They have done extensive research into the authorship question. They include detailed information on de Vere's life. Focus on the third and fourth paragraphs, which detail how he became the 17th Earl of Oxford. 
• Another resource comes from Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable. They give information on what Edward de Vere's adult life was like.

Now that you know about Edward de Vere's life, we can begin to focus on the theory that he was Shakespeare. Visit these sites for support of the theory.

• Edward de Vere is known as one of the strongest contenders in the authorship debate. Why would de Vere need to create the persona of Shakespeare? Find the answer by viewing the segment of The Shakespeare Enigma titled "Edward de Vere: the Real Shakespeare?" "Proving Edward de Vere as Shakespeare." You will need a username and password, which you can find on the whiteboard, to view the video.
• 
  
• What evidence does the Shakespeare Fellowship offer in support of him as the author of Shakespeare?  Consider especially the sections entitled "The case for Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford as "Shakespeare" and "A Comparison of Edward de Vere and 'William Shakespeare." 
• The De Vere Society of England (found here: http://www.deveresociety.co.uk/OxfordStratford.html) gives much evidence to the Earl of Oxford was Shakespeare.  The sections entitled "The Case for Edward De Vere" and "Parallels to the Plays" will be of great benefit.  What parallels can be made between his life and some of Shakespeare's plays?  (Include any play titles).
  

There is also evidence suggesting that the Earl of Oxford could not have been Shakespeare.  These sites argue against Edward de Vere as the author.

• The nationally syndicated podcast Skeptoid (found here: skeptoid.com/episodes/4280) argues that de Vere could not be the author of Shakespeare's works.  Why couldn't he have been the author?  You'll find the answer towards the bottom of the transcript from their podcast, "Finding Shakespeare." 
• What evidence does the Shakespeare Fellowship offer in support of him as the author of Shakespeare?  Consider especially the sections entitled "The case for Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford as "Shakespeare" and "A Comparison of Edward de Vere and 'William Shakespeare." 
• The Shakespeare Authorship page also points to some holes in the Oxfordian theory. What are they? You'll find this answer under the two major headings "Oxford the Poet" and "Oxford the Myth." However, there is also some evidence laced within other sections. Feel free to check those out too!
• Finally, visit The Shakespeare Enigma again (use the last link in the Marlovian theory section). This time, watch "Proving Edward de Vere as Shakespeare" and "Edward de Vere: the Real Shakespeare?" Is there proof that de Vere was Shakespeare? What proof is there (or what proof was missing?)
  

ASSESSMENT

1. Who was Eduard de Vere?

http://www.authorshipstudies.org/who.cfm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1MKsQSCMso&ebc=ANyPxKoyyUT_gLSTZgGYnQX2cNoO7m3M5b9g2JjhJJ8Fc4G7XjGMihFmD1GA9RNScP4ymT6P3Vx_yfTfJC6BjCcIoDu7eSin7Q

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_de_Vere,_17th_Earl_of_Oxford

2. What do we know about his quarrels, plots and scandals? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_de_Vere,_17th_Earl_of_Oxford#Quarrels.2C_plots_and_scandals

3. What is the relationship between Eduard de Vere, (the Earl of Oxford) and Queen Elizabeth? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Tudor_theory

http://www.anonymous-shakespeare.com/cms/index.267.0.1.html

4. Have you watched the film Anonymous? What is it about? http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/10/people-have-been-arguing-about-shakespeare-for-decades/247422/ http://bookhaven.stanford.edu/2011/10/shakespeare-or-the-earl-of-oxford-its-a-shame-sometimes-that-dead-men-cant-sue/

5. Did Queen Elizabeth have children?

http://shakespearebyanothername.blogspot.com.es/2011/08/anonymous-questions-did-queen-elizabeth.html

6. Is Oxford Shakespeare? Give eight reasons to think so.

http://shakespeareoxfordfellowship.org/8-reasons-edward-de-vere-was-probably-the-real-shakespeare/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/oxford/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8380000/8380564.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturenews/6630713/William-Shakespeares-plays-were-written-by-Earl-of-Oxford-claims-German-scholar.html https://hankwhittemore.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/no-27-of-100-reasons-to-believe-edward-de-vere-earl-of-oxford-was-shakespeare-the-powerful-link-between-them-in-the-person-of-anthony-munday/

7. The Oxfordian Theory. What do the Oxfordian supporters hold? http://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/shakespeare/vere.html

8. What is the opinion of these two sources about Eduard de Vere? http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2011/11/13/cultura/1321173109.html

http://theplantnewspaper.com/2016/02/shakespeare-wrote-plays-done/

9. What’s in a name? What does this question imply?

http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/what-s-name-that-which-we-call-rose

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spelling_of_Shakespeare%27s_name

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/405331-what-s-in-a-name-that-which-we-call-a-rose

http://absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/authorship/authorship_de_vere.htm

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?

http://blognosololiteratura.blogspot.com.es/2012/11/el-enigma-de-shakespeare.html

This question must be asked to the whole class after watching the other class mystery as well. Find some quotations to support your opinion.

MYSTERY FIVE

The Group Theory, or "Teamwork, Everyone!"
You will begin your WebQuest in a slightly different manner from that of other groups, simply because you don't have one person to study with.  Instead, you'll begin by learning a bit about typical writing efforts of the day.  Your goal here is not to find information for or against the group theory, but rather, to become knowledgeable on the group theory itself. 
Begin by researching collaborative, or group, writing techniques.  Several Writing centres across the United States have published information on collaborative writing.  The University of North Carolina offers a handout with a great overview of group writing techniques.  Read the sections titled "The Spectrum of Collaboration in Group Writing" and "Overview of Steps in the Collaborative Writing Process."  What would it look like to write as a group? 
Next, you'll look at information regarding writing in the 16th century.  The Shakespeare Authorship Trust gives a brief overview of the collaborative process in Shakespeare's time.  Was it a common practice? Why or why not? 
Finally, consider the group members themselves.  Name at least 5 possible authors who have been associated with the group theory.  The following sites give possible candidates: under the section titled "Shakespeare Collaboration," the Francis Bacon Research Trust (found here: http://www.fbrt.org.uk/pages/essays/essay-shakespeare%20collaboration.html) and The Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable.  For each of the 5 you choose, write a brief summary of their writing style.  Did they write prose? poetry? plays? novels?  This will be helpful later in today's class period.
Now that you've researched the possible group members and the theory itself, we will turn our attention to the argument that Shakespeare's works were a group effort.
First, take a look at the Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable website again.  What questions do they raise against Shakespeare as a single author? 
Now, consider the Shakespeare Authorship Trust document about collaboration specifically regarding Shakespeare's plays.  Why do they believe Shakespeare was written by more than one person?  Give examples of some of the plays and the language within the plays that point to a group theory of authorship. 
Using the Shakespeare Resource Center, look at some of the places and themes of his plays and write them down.  Consider plays from each of the groups: comedies, tragedies, histories, and Later Romances.  You can click on the plays to find brief summaries.  Could one man have written such a variety of works?  
Of course, the group theory is just that- only a theory.  Now, you will consider evidence against the group theory. 
Some scholars point to the group theory because they see parts of many possible candidates in Shakespeare's works.  In a review of the book Who Wrote Shakespeare, one reviewer scrutinizes this way of thinking.  Why?  What logic does he use to diminish the "many authors" theory?  Find out at this link from the Shakespeare Authorship Page.
Because of the fact that this theory includes many possible authors, you'll want to become familiar with some of the arguments against those authors.  With your list of 5 authors associated with the theory (which you worked on earlier), use your remaining time to research arguments against those authors.  It's not important that you become familiar with all of them right now.  Rather, you will want to be aware of the fact that there are arguments against the authors.  Use the websites Shakespeare Authorship Roundtable (found here: www.shakespeareauthorship.org) and The Shakespeare Authorship Coalition as starting points for information regarding some of the candidates.  They both include great web link resources for possible candidates.