Ecocritical Shakespeare (Literary and Scientific Cultures of Early Modernity)

Can reading, writing about, and teaching Shakespeare contribute to the health of the planet? To what degree are Shakespeare's plays anthropocentric or ecocentric? What is the connection between the literary and the real when it comes to ecological conduct? This collection, engages with these pressing questions surrounding ecocritical Shakespeare, in order to provide a better understanding of where and how ecocritical readings should be situated. The volume combines multiple critical perspectives, juxtaposing historicism and presentism, as well as considering ecofeminism and pedagogy; and addresses such topics as early modern flora and fauna, and the neglected areas of early modern marine ecology and oceanography. Concluding with an assessment of the challenges-and necessities-of teaching Shakespeare ecocritically, Ecocritical Shakespeare not only broadens the implications of ecocriticism in early modern studies, but represents an important contribution to this growing field. Introduction: warbling invaders -- Dan Brayton and Lynne Bruckner Contexts for reading -- Vermin and parasites: Shakespeare's animal architectures -- Karen Raber Ecology of self in Midsummer night's dream -- Robert N. Watson Gaia and the great chain of being -- Gabriel Egan Is it Shakespearean ecocriticism if it isn't Presentist? -- Sharon O'Dair Flora, fauna, weather, water -- "The Nobleness of life": Spontaneous generation and excremental life in Anthony and Cleopatra -- Edward J. Geisweidt The well-hung shrew -- J. A. Shea and Paul Yachnin Felling Falstaff in Windsor Park -- Vin Nardizzi It's all about the gillyvors: engendering art and nature in The Winter's Tale -- Jennifer Munroe Tongues in the Storm: Shakespeare, ecological crisis, and the resources of genre -- Steve Mentz Shakespeare and the global ocean -- Dan Brayton Presentism and pedagogy -- An ecocritic's Macbeth -- Richard Kerridge Ophelia's plants and the death of violets -- Rebecca Laroche Teaching Shakespeare in the ecotone -- Lynne Bruckner Afterword: Ecocriticism on the lip of a lion -- Simon C. Estok. Cover 1 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 10 Notes on Contributors 12 Acknowledgements 16 Foreword 18 Introduction Warbling Invaders 26 Part I: Contexts for Reading 36 1 Vermin and Parasites: Shakespeare’s Animal Architectures 38 2 The Ecology of Self in Midsummer Night’s Dream 58 3 Gaia and the Great Chain of Being 82 4 Is it Shakespearean Ecocriticism if it isn’t Presentist? 96 Part II: Flora, Fauna, Weather, Water 112 5 “The Nobleness of Life”: Spontaneous Generation and Excremental Life in Antony and Cleopatra 114 6 The Well-Hung Shrew 130 7 Felling Falstaff in Windsor Park 148 8 It’s all about the gillyvors: Engendering Art and Nature in The Winter’s Tale 164 9 Tongues in the Storm: Shakespeare, Ecological Crisis, and the Resources of Genre 180 10 Shakespeare and the Global Ocean 198 Part III: Presentism and Pedagogy 216 11 An Ecocritic’s Macbeth 218 12 Ophelia’s Plants and the Death of Violets 236 13 Teaching Shakespeare in the Ecotone 248 Afterword: Ecocriticism on the Lip of a Lion 264 Bibliography 272 Index 296 The first collection devoted specifically to green Shakespeare, this volume engages with pressing environmental questions in order to provide a better understanding of where and how ecocritical readings should be situated. Ecocritical Shakespeare combines multiple critical perspectives, juxtaposing historicism and presentism as well as considering ecofeminism and pedagogy. Topics addressed include early modern representations of flora and fauna, human-animal relations, storms, the scala naturae, the marine environment, and pedagogy