Interpretational Circle as the Key Principle of the Philological Investigations of William Shakespeare’s Non-Dramatic Texts

Abstract

Scholars of Shakespearean studies often encounter the challenge of limited information regarding the biography of the renowned playwright, the textual history of his works, and the intended meaning of some of his texts. However, this study asserts that Shakespeare’s non-dramatic works offer valuable material for biographical interpretation, thereby enhancing readers’ understanding of the texts. The article shows that by adopting an interpretational circle approach, scholars can extract biographically and historically relevant information from these works after gathering initial information and acknowledging the limitations of a biographical approach. The author’s analysis suggests that Shakespeare’s sonnets provide rich biographical material, while the interpretation of “The Phoenix and the Turtle” requires a broader understanding of the historical and cultural context. Shakespeare’s narrative poems, “Venus and Adonis” and “The Rape of Lucrece,” fall somewhere in between these two extremes. This study demonstrates the importance of critical thinking, research skills, and the ability to navigate complex literary texts for scholars of Shakespearean studies, highlighting the professional competencies required for success in this field.