Titus Andronicus facts for kids

Title page of the first quarto, 1594

Titus Andronicus (c. 1589–1592) is the first tragedy play by William Shakespeare. Most of its theme, structure and language comes from The Spanish Tragedy by Thomas Kyd. It is believed to be Shakespeare's first play, and also the most bloodiest and less respected of his works.

Images for kids

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  First page of The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus from the First Folio, published in 1623

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  Gravelot illustration of Aaron cutting off Titus's hand in Act 3, Scene 1; engraved by Gerard Van der Gucht (1740)

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  Tereus Confronted with the Head of his Son Itylus (1637) by Peter Paul Rubens

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  Title page of the second quarto (1600)

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  Title page of the third quarto (1611)

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  Thomas Kirk illustration of Aaron protecting his son from Chiron and Demetrius in Act 4, Scene 2; engraved by J. Hogg (1799)

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  Illustration of Aaron protecting his son from Chiron and Demetrius in Act 4, Scene 2; from Joseph Graves' Dramatic tales founded on Shakespeare's plays (1840)

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  Jean-Michel Moreau illustration of Lucius telling his father the tribunes have left, from Act 3, Scene 1; engraved by N. le Mire (1785)

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  Edward Smith illustration of Lavinia pleading with Tamora for mercy from Act 2, Scene 3 (1841)

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  Philip James de Loutherbourg illustration of Quintus trying to help Martius from the hole in Act 2, Scene 3; engraved by 'Hall' (1785)

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  Young Lucius stares at the body of Aaron's baby in Jane Howell's adaptation for the BBC Television Shakespeare; in the background, his father is being inaugurated as the new emperor