RESEARCH LOG

TOPIC OR RESEARCH QUESTION: What would comprise an empirical model and methodology for determining

the authorial imprint in the writing of poetry that can be applied to the stylistic analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnets and

Lyric poetry to establish a matrix for comparisons to the stylistic imprints of other English Tudor poets who may

be considered as contenders in the Shakespeare authorship question?

DATE

TITLE OR NAME

LOCATION

ANNOTATION OR DESCRIPTION

ML Number or Website

3/15/03

Shakespeare--Who Was He?

CSU: ML

Probably the best introductory text on the topic; it summarizes

The Oxford Challenge to the Bard of Avon. Westport, CT: Praeger,

both major viewpoints succinctly, but leans slightly toward an

1994. Richard F. Whalen

Oxfordian position.

3/15/03

"The Case for Oxford."

Atlantic Monthly Oct. 1991: 45+

Focus is on parallels between Oxford's own life and specific

by Tom Bethell.

characters in Shakespeare's plays and a lack of evidence for the

3/15/03

Shakespeare and His Rivals: A

man from Stratford.

Casebook on the Authorship Controversy. New York: Odyssey, 1962

Summarizes the history of the controversy

McMichael, George, and Edgar M. Glenn, eds.

3/15/03

"Looking for Shakespeare: The Case for Oxford." The Atlantic

Matus argues from the Stratfordian viewpoint

Monthly. Oct. 1991:43-86. (See Bethel above)

Tom Bethel and Irvin Matus

2/10/97

"Was the Earl of Oxford the True Shakespeare? A Computer-Aided

An introduction to several aspects of computerized stylistic

Analysis." www.bcpl.lib.md.us/~tros

analysis (stylometrics): words counts and other quantifying

Ward Elliott and Robert Valenza

features.

3/15/03

The Shakespeare Claimants: A Critical Survey of the Four Principle

Theories Concerning the Authorship of the Shakespearean Plays.

H. N. Gibson.

New York: Barnes and Noble, 1962.

3/15/03

"Psychological Characteristics of the Literary Genius."

Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 35-3 (Summer 1995): 113-134.

Carl S. Hale

3/15/03

"Shakespeare, Oxford, and Verbal Parallels." by Dave Kathman

www.bcpl.lib.md.us/~tross/ws/paral.html

3/15/03

"Embodied Minds and Meanings." Ed. Peter Baumgartner and

See chapter and other books by George Lakoff

Sabine Payr. Speaking Minds: Interviews with Twenty Eminent

Cognitive Scientists. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1995, 115-29.

3/15/03

"Shakespeare" Identified in Edward De Vere, the Seventeenth Earl of

First major book to argue to case for Oxford.

Oxford. 1920. (Facsimile Reprint) Northampton, MA: Oxenford P, 1996.

Deals with both plays and poetry parallels between Oxford and

(See also website download)

Shaksper.

3/15/03

The Elizabethan Courtier Poets: The Poems and Their Contexts.

Book is concise, but with some detail of the history of the court

Columbia: U of Missouri P, 1991. 9-40. Steven W. May.

poets, including the extant poems of Oxford. Scholarly.

Prof. May is quoted and cited often by both sides of the issue.

3/15/03

"The Poems of Edward DeVere, Seventeenth Earl of Oxford, and of

Easy to use and scholarly reference. Brief detailed analysis of

Robert Devereux, Second Earl of Essex." Steven W. May

each Oxford and Essex extant poem.

Studies in Philology. 77.2 (1980): 67-79.

3/15/03

"The Lone Genius Myth." Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 35-3

(Summer 1995): 70-107. Montuori and Purser.

3/15/03

The Mysterious William Shakespeare: The Myth and the Reality.2n.

Ogburn is the most passionate (most biased) supporter of the

ed. McLean, VA: EPM, 1992. Charlton Ogburn.

case for Oxford. But his work is scholarly and above reproach

from cheap pot shots.

3/27/03

The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works. New York: Oxford UP

1988. Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, Gen. Eds.

3/27/03

Shakespeare's Metrics. New Haven: Yale UP, 1968.

Excellent discussion of metrics and word use

Dorothy L. Sipe

2/10/97

"'Shakespeare' Revealed in Oxford's Poetry." Joseph Sobran.

Persuasive examples of correlations between Oxford and

www.shakespeare.com/sobrpoet.htm

Shakespeare's poems, but most of his arguments are based

on interesting parallels, themes, styles, or techniques used by

most Elizabethan poets and writers. See other books by Sobron

3/27/03

Shakespeare's Verse: Iambic Pentameter and the Poet's

Scholarly research on metrics of Shakespeare's sonnets.

Idiosyncrasies. New York: American U Studies, 1987.

Author has other books and articles.

Marina Tarlinskaja

1/24/97

"Critically Examining Oxfordian Claims." Alan Nelson

www.bcpl.lib.md/us/%7Etross/ws4.html

2/10/97

"The Distinctive Orthography of Edward de Vere 17th Earl of Oxford."

Focuses on some of the unique spellings of Shakespeare in

Alan Nelson. http://violet.berk…elson/oxspell.html

comparison to other Elizabethan writers.

Nelson has other books and articles. But Nelson is highly

controversial and much disputed. See his book on computer

analysis of authorship traits (below) and a new biography of

Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.

2/10/97

"Oxford's Literary Reputation." Terry Ross

www.vmi.edu/~english/leland.html

3/27/03

Shakespeare: The Poems. Ed. Hyder E. Rollins

the eminent scholar!

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1938.

Great footnotes and glosses.

3/27/03

Author Unknown: On the Trail of Anonymous. New York: Henry Holt

Covers investigating anonymous authorship; methodology cases.

and Co.,2000. Don Foster

Foster is disputed by many scholars, but is widely acclaimed

by the general public

3/27/03

A Reader's Guide to Shakespeare.1987. New York: Salem Press, 1999.

Covers plays and some sonnets and lyric poetry; critical analysis

Joseph Rosenblum

3/27/03

Computer Methods for Literary Research.Columbia, SC: U of S. C. P

Computer and technical approach is out of date, but general

1980. Robert L. Oakman

approach and scholarship is good. Excellent bibliography.

3/27/03

Shakespeare's Unorthodox Biography: New Evidence of an

Disciplined, independent scholar. A general approach to the

Authorship Problem. Westport, CT.: Greenwood P, 2001.

authorship topic that focuses on evaluating primary, secondary,

Diana Price

inadmissible, misleading, and controversial evidence

3/27/03

The Man Who Was William Shakespeare. New York: Cornwall Books,

Concise and scholarly, but brief. Good supporting research for

1990. Peter Sammartino.

many of the hot issues.

3/27/03

Who Was Shakespeare? A New Inquiry. New York: AMS P, 1955.

Scholarly and detailed. Somewhat brief. Excellent source of

Hilda Amphlett. Intro. By Christmas Humphreys

old scholarship and references before 1950.

3/27/03