Final answer:
We know when Shakespeare resumed writing after a 7-year period through contemporary accounts and the publication of his works, starting with a 1592 mockery and the release of 'Venus and Adonis' in 1593, followed by play quartos in 1594.
Step-by-step explanation:
We know when Shakespeare began writing after a 7-year period through contemporary accounts and anecdotes. After the mysterious gap, the earliest evidence of Shakespeare's theatrical career comes from a mention in 1592, where he was derided as a 'Shake-scene,' indicating his established presence in the London theater scene.
This reference, coupled with the subsequent publication of Venus and Adonis in 1593 and the first quarto editions of his plays in 1594, helps to mark the end of his 'lost years' and signals the beginning of his prolific period as a playwright.
During the time of Elizabethan theatre, playwrights like Shakespeare not only wrote plays but often directed and cast them too, indicating their deep involvement in the theater.
Literary works from this period continue to resonate with audiences today because they address universal themes and present complex characters, often through a language that was both innovative and beautiful.
The manner in which we assess literary works from different periods can inform our understanding of the themes and societal views that shaped them.