Shakespeare

There has been a great variety [blank] critical approaches to Shakespeare's work since his death. During the 17th and 18th century, Shakespeare was both admired and condemned. [blank] then, much of the adverse criticism has not been considered relevant, although certain issues have continued to interest critics throughout the years. For instance, charges against his moral propriety [blank] made by Samuel Johnson in the 18th century and by George Bernard Shaw in the 20th.Early criticism was directed primarily at questions of form. Shakespeare [blank] criticized for mixing comedy and tragedy and failing to observe the unities of time and place prescribed [blank] the rules of classical drama. Dryden and Johnson were among the critics claiming that he had corrupted the language with false wit, puns, and ambiguity. [blank] some of his early plays might justly be charged with a frivolous use of such devices, 20th-century criticism has tended to praise their use in later plays as adding depth and resonance of meaning.