The Popular Culture of Shakespeare, Spenser and Jonson (Routledge Studies in Renaissance Literature and Culture)

Breaking new ground by considering productions of popular culture from above, rather than from below, this book draws on theorists of cultural studies, such as Pierre Bourdieu, Roger Chartier and John Fiske to synthesize work from disparate fields and present new readings of well-known literary works. Using the literature of Shakespeare, Spenser and Jonson, Mary Ellen Lamb investigates the social narratives of several social groups: an urban, middling group; an elite at the court of James; and an aristocratic faction from the countryside. She states that under the pressure of increasing economic stratification, these social fractions created cultural identities to distinguish themselves from each other -- particularly from lower status groups. Focusing on Shakespeare's *A Midsummer Night's Dream* and *Merry Wives of Windsor*, Spenser's *Faerie Queene*, and Jonson's *Masque of Oberon*, she explores the ways in which early modern literature formed a particularly productive site of contest for deep social changes, and how these changes in turn, played a large role in shaping some of the most well-known works of the period. Focusing On Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream And The Merry Wives Of Windsor, Spenser's The Faerie Queene, And Jonson's Oberon, The Fairy Prince And The Sad Shepherd, Mary Ellen Lamb Explores The Ways In Which Early Modern Literature Formed A Particularly Productive Site Of Contest For Deep Social Changes, And How These Changes In Turn Played A Large Role In Shaping Some Of The Most Well-known Works Of The Period. This Book Breaks New Ground By Considering Productions Of Popular Culture From Above, Rather Than From Below. Drawing From Theorists Of Cultural Studies, Such As Pierre Bourdieu, Roger Chartier, And John Friske, This Project Synthesizes Work From Disparate Fields To Provide New Readings Of Well-known Literary Works. It Will Be Of Particular Interest To Literary Scholars, To Cultural And Social Historians, And To General Readers Interested In Fairies, Old Wives' Tales And Hobby-horses.--jacket. 1. Producing Popular Cultures -- Pt. I. Fairies, Old Wives' Tales, And Hobby-horses : Rising To (in)visibility -- 2. Taken By The Fairies -- 3. Old Wives' Tales -- 4. Hobby-horses And Fellow Travelers -- Pt. Ii. William Shakespeare -- 5. A Midsummer Night's Dream : Breeching The Binary -- 6. The Merry Wives Of Windsor : Domestic Nationalism And The Refuse Of The Realm -- Pt. Iii. Edmund Spenser -- 7. The Faerie Queene : Vanishing Fairies And Dissolving Courtiers -- Pt. Iv. Ben Jonson -- 8. Oberon, The Fairy Prince (1611) And The Great Fairy Caper; The Sad Shepherd (c. 1637) And The Topography Of The Devil's Arse. Mary Ellen Lamb. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [241]-263) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 1. Producing popular cultures......Page 12 Part I: Fairies, old wives' tales, and hobby-horses: Rising to (in)visibility......Page 36 2. Taken by the fairies......Page 40 3. Old wives’ tales......Page 56 4. Hobby-horses and fellow travelers......Page 74 Part II: William Shakespeare......Page 100 5. A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Breeching the binary......Page 104 6. The Merry Wives of Windsor: Domestic nationalism and the refuse of the realm......Page 136 Part III: Edmund Spenser......Page 172 7. The Faerie Queene: Vanishing fairies and dissolving courtiers......Page 174 Part IV: Ben Jonson......Page 206 8. Oberon, The Fairy Prince (1611) and the great fairy caper; The Sad Shepherd (c.1637) and the topography of the devil’s arse......Page 208 Conclusion ......Page 240 Notes ......Page 243 Bibliography ......Page 252 Index ......Page 275 "Government Managing Risk presents an extensive conceptual and empirical analysis of the world's first national ICL for higher education as well as exploring the experiences of a number of other countries adopting ICLs. Bruce Chapman prescribes an important, new role for income contingent loans, demonstrating the extraordinary potential ICLs have to change radically the nature of social and economic policy interventions. ICLs can be seen as a remarkably flexible government risk instrument. He presents analysis of a number of disparate case studies to illustrate how ICLs can aid risk management policy reform in both progressive and administratively feasible ways."--Jacket Acknowledgements Producing Popular Cultures Part I: Fairies, Old Wives Tales, and Hobbyhorses: Rising to (In)visibility Taken by the Fairies Old Wives' Tales Hobbyhorses and Fellow Travellers Part II: William Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream: Breeching the Binary Merry Wives of Windsor: Domestic Nationalism and the Refuse of the Realm Part III: Edmund Spenser The Faerie Queene: Vanishing Fairies and Dissolving Courtiers Part IV: Ben Jonson Oberon, The Fairy Prince (1611) and The Great Fairy Caper; The Sad Shepherd (c. 1637) and the Topography of the Devil's Arse Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index By analysing appropriations of fairies, old wives, and mummers, this project explores the conflicted entanglements in the early modern period of leaving, or attempting to leave, a once-shared common culture behind