Your task is to read about and research possible theories surrounding these mysteries in order to formulate educated opinions of your own.  In addition to the articles provided by your teacher, you will use the following resources to aid your search for anwers:

Shakespeare   Study the life of William Shakespeare from this web site. Read about his interesting entry into the world of theater. Learn what is known about his life. At the young age of eighteen he married Anne Hathaway and they moved to London. Find out about his early days in London theater and how he went on to become known as the "greatest English speaking playwright." Some of his plays include A Midsummer's Night Dream, King Lear, Othello, Macbeth, and The Merchant of Venice. Topic: Theater--History URL:  http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc12.htm
Christopher Marlowe   Christopher Marlowe lived a short but productive life. This web site gives biographical information as well as an analysis of Marlowe's influence on English literature, notably on William Shakespeare. There is evidence that in addition to being a writer, Marlowe may have also been a spy. The controversy over his violent death is also explored. There are links to more information about Marlowe as well as links to other famous playwrights of his time. This site is a good starting point for basic information about Christopher Marlowe. Topic: Marlowe, Christopher,--1564-1593 URL:  http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc24.html
Much Ado about Something   Read all about the William Shakespeare Authorship Debate at this site. Did you know that very little is actually known about him? The "Authorship Question" dates back as far as 1857. An on-line quiz is available, testing your knowledge of this debate. To illustrate, how would you answer the following question: Is there evidence that William Shakespeare attended school? This interesting site is provided by PBS. For more on this topic, the site also provides related links. Topic: Writing URL:  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muchado/
William Shakespeare: Shakespeare: An Introduction   One could argue that the world's greatest playwright needs no introduction, but most would agree than William Shakespeare benefits from some explanation. This resource opens with a thorough review of the few known details of his life, as well as a discussion his achievement as a writer and a description of the context in which he wrote (i.e., Elizabethan England). Student-researchers are then encouraged to peruse the rich content accessible from the sidebar, including "Shakespeare Biography," which includes a chronology of his work; "Shakespeare Chronology," a timeline of his life; notes on the plays; "Shakespeare's Globe"; and "Shakespeare on Film." Topic: Shakespeare, William, --1564-1616 URL:  http://www.enotes.com/william-shakespeare/shakespeare-an-introduction