Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Shakespeare Didn't Work Alone, Says Computer

Program developed to spot plagiarism shows Bard wrote Edward III With Kyd

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 12, 2009 11:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – The computer program is called “Pl@giarism,” but no one is suggesting the Bard cribbed from others—not yet, at least. Researchers used the software, developed to spot cheating scholars, to take a look at The Reign of King Edward III, an unattributed 1596 play that has recently been added to the canon because of a wealth of Shakespearean turns of phrase. The Times reports the verdict: 40% Shakespeare, 60% Thomas Kyd.

The program analyzes the text for three-word phrase matches to a reference sample. “There might be 10 to 20 common phrases between two plays by different authors,” the researcher says, but the portions of Edward now attributed to Shakespeare came up with 200 matches; the remaining portions had 200 matches to works by Kyd. Another expert declares himself “skeptical, frankly, that we have yet reached a stage where these computer-assisted investigations can prove authorship,” but applauds the push to “see Shakespeare not as an eminence,” but as “one among many.”

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A portrait of William Shakespeare. (AP Photo)

A 1623 folio of Shakespeare's plays. (AP Photo)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

When you have 200 [matches] you can be pretty sure. Everyone can see that certain scenes are very Shakespearean, but no one could see why there were verses that are definitely not his. There is a real difference.
- Sir Brian Vickers, University of London

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

'Lost' Shakespeare Play Published

Double Falsehood is no hoax, experts say

(NEWSER) - A Shakespeare play dismissed as a hoax for nearly 300 years has now been accepted as the real thing. Double Falsehood, now under the name of writer Lewis Theobal, was—as its author always claimed—based on William Shakespeare's long-lost script for Cardenio, scholars say. Shakespeare publisher Arden has now published the play under the Bard's name and made it available in a fully annotated form for the first time in 250 years. More»

UK Shakespeare Troupe Seeks Canine Thespians

(NEWSER) - Dog-owners in the UK city of Bath can audition their pooches tomorrow for a spot in a Shakespeare play, the Telegraph reports. The role in The Taming of the Shrew is historically accurate, the director said: “In Shakespeare’s time … they had a troupe of dogs specially trained to perform and do tricks or a jig as part of Elizabethan entertainment.” And, no, “this is not an April Fool,” a spokesman adds. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Shakespeare Didn't Work Alone, Says Computer