The Arden Guide to Renaissance Drama: An Introduction with Primary Sources (The Arden Shakespeare)

The Arden Guide to Renaissance Drama is a single critical and contextual resource for students embarking on an in-depth exploration of early modern drama, providing both critical insight and accessible contextual information. This companion equips students with the information needed to situate the plays in their socio-political, intellectual and literary contexts. Divided into two parts, it introduces students to the major authors and significant dramatic texts of the period and emphasises the importance of both a historicist and close-reading approach to better engage with these works. The Guide offers: · primary texts from key early modern scholars such as Machiavelli, Heywood and Sidney · contextual information vital to a full understanding of the drama of the period · close readings of 14 of the most widely studied play texts by Shakespeare and his contemporaries · a single resource to accompany any study of early modern drama This is an ideal companion for students of Renaissance drama, offering students and teachers a range of primary contextual sources to illuminate their understanding alongside close critical readings of the major plays of the period. Title Page Copyright page Dedication Contents List of Illustrations List of Extracts Preface Acknowledgements 1 Politics and Society Kingship The English Reformation Puritans The Reformation and drama The nation Social rank Discussion points 2 Men and Women Sex, sexuality, marriage Disorder Manhood Staging gender Rulers, readers, writers Discussion points 3 Travel and Trade Old worlds New worlds Race and racism Gendering diff erence Transforming identities The marketplace of the world Early colonialism Discussion points 4 Humanism ‘The courts of ancient men’: The study of the classics Vernacular humanism Humanism and English education Courtly humanism A humanist philosophy Humanism and English drama Discussion points 5 The Stage The playhouses Costumes and props The players and their audience Anti-theatrical writing The stage as political space Discussion points 6 Authors, Books and Readers Authors Books From plays to literary works Readers Discussion points 7 Genre Comedy Tragedy Mixed modes and histories Discussion points 8 Language and Style English, the ‘vulgar tongue’ Eloquence Patterned speech Varieties of speech Discussion points 9 The Alchemist Discussion points 10 Arden of Faversham Discussion points 11 Doctor Faustus Discussion points 12 The Duchess of Malfi Discussion points 13 Hamlet Discussion points 14 Henry V Discussion points 15 The Jew of Malta Discussion points 16 The Knight of the Burning Pestle Discussion points 17 The Roaring Girl Discussion points 18 The Shoemaker’s Holiday Discussion points 19 The Spanish Tragedy Discussion points 20 The Tempest Discussion points 21 The Tragedy of Mariam Discussion points 22 Volpone Discussion points Appendix Suggested Reading Notes INDEX A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z This Companion To Early Modern Drama Equips Undergraduate Students With The Information Needed To Situate The Plays In Their Socio-political, Intellectual And Literary Contexts. Chapters Survey Important Political, Cultural And Intellectual Events And Movements, Ranging From The Reformation To Emerging Nationalism To Humanism And To Print Culture. The Book Also Places At Students' Disposal Some Of The Key Primary Documents That Constitute The Discursive Context In Which The Plays Are Situated. Finally, It Introduces Them To The Major Authors And Key Dramatic Texts Of The Period And Emphasises The Importance Of Both A Historicist And Close-reading Approach To Better Engage With These Works. Rather Than Using Various Texts To Cover This Ground, This Book Provides Undergraduate And College-level Students Embarking On An In-depth Exploration Of Early Modern Drama With One Resource, Making Both Critical And Contextual Information Accessible Even As It Helps Make Their Approach To The Literature More Insightful And Sophisticated-- Machine Generated Contents Note: -- Part I -- 1. Politics And Society -- 2. Men And Women -- 3. Travel And Trade -- 4. Humanism -- 5. The Stage -- 6. Authors, Books And Readers -- 7. Genre -- 8. Language And Style Part Ii -- The Alchemist -- Arden Of Faversham -- Doctor Faustus -- The Duchess Of Malfi -- Hamlet -- Henry V -- The Jew Of Malta -- The Knight Of The Burning Pestle -- The Roaring Girl -- The Shoemaker's Holiday -- The Spanish Tragedy -- The Tempest -- The Tragedy Of Mariam -- Volpone -- Appendices -- Index. Brinda Charry. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This companion to early modern drama equips undergraduate students with the information needed to situate the plays in their socio-political, intellectual and literary contexts. Chapters survey important political, cultural and intellectual events and movements, ranging from the Reformation to emerging nationalism to humanism and to print culture. The book also places at students' disposal some of the key primary documents that constitute the discursive context in which the plays are situated. Finally, it introduces them to the major authors and key dramatic texts of the period and emphasises the importance of both a historicist and close-reading approach to better engage with these works. Rather than using various texts to cover this ground, this book provides undergraduate and college-level students embarking on an in-depth exploration of early modern drama with one resource, making both critical and contextual information accessible even as it helps make their approach to the literature more insightful and sophisticated"-- Provided by publisher