Timon of Athens
A tragic play by William Shakespeare, written around 1605-1608. Plot: Timon, a wealthy Athenian, becomes disillusioned with society after giving generously to friends and strangers who have failed to repay his kindness. He eventually becomes a misanthrope and hoards his wealth, alienating himself from everyone around him.
By William Shakespeare · First published 1608 · Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Historical · 17 chapters · 38,617 words
First lines
Athens. A hall in Timon's house.
Enter Poet, Painter, Jeweller, Merchant, and others, at several doors.
What this Textopian page supports
Timon of Athens is listed on Textopian as a play by William Shakespeare, dated 1608 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: William Shakespeare
- Date: 1608 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Drama, Historical, Literary Fiction
- Length: 38,617 words
- Structure: 17 chapters, 922 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Timon of Athens?
- How does this play by William Shakespeare fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Tragedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Tragedy — The story revolves around the tragic fall of Timon, from a generous lord to a misanthrope, giving the play a tragic tone and plot.
- Drama — As with most Shakespeare plays, 'Timon of Athens' involves complex emotional exchanges and intense situations, typical of the drama genre.
- Historical — Although the accuracy is debated, the play is based on the life of a historical figure, Timon of Athens, and includes elements of ancient Athenian society.
- Literary Fiction — Written by William Shakespeare, the text has significant literary merit and explores universal philosophical themes.
Tags
Tragedy · Shakespeare · Classical Literature · Money · Greed · Corruption · Decadence · Nihilism · Morality · Hypocrisy · Deception · Power
Contents
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE V
- SCENE VI