Publisher Description
Written by major international scholars, this Companion combines analysis of topics crucial to Renaissance tragedy with the interpretation of canonical and frequently taught texts. Part I introduces key topics, such as religion, revenge, and the family, and, uniquely, discusses modern performance traditions on stage and screen. Bridging this section with Part II is a chapter which engages with Shakespeare's generic distinctiveness as well as the difficulties our familiarity with Shakespearean tragedy engenders for our appreciation of the tragedies of his contemporaries. Individual essays in Part II introduce important critical conversations about specific canonical tragedies and provide their own contributions to those discussions. Topics include The Revenger's Tragedy and the theatrics of original sin, Arden of Faversham and the preternatural, and The Duchess of Malfi and the erotics of literary form. Providing fresh readings of key texts, the Companion is an essential guide for all students of Renaissance tragedy.
Notes
Introduces all the important topics and presents fresh readings of key texts, with overviews of The Dutchess of Malfi, Dr Faustus and situates Shakespeare within the broader context of Renaissance Tragedy.
Author Biography
Emma Smith is Fellow and Tutor in English at Hertford College, University of Oxford. Garrett A. Sullivan, Jr is Professor of English at Penn State University.
Table of Contents
Preface; Chronology; Part I. Themes: 1. Renaissance tragedy: theories and antecedents Mike Pincombe; 2. Tragedy, family and household Catherine Richardson; 3. Tragedy and the nation state Andrew Hadfield; 4. Tragedy and religion Alison Shell; 5. Tragedy and revenge Tanya Pollard; 6. Tragic subjectivities Garrett A. Sullivan, Jr; 7. Tragic forms Lucy Munro; 8. Tragedy and performance Lois Potter; 9. Renaissance tragedy on film: defying mainstream Shakespeare Pascale Aebischer; 10. Shakespeare and early modern tragedy Emma Smith; Part II. Readings: 11. The Spanish Tragedy and metatheatre Gregory M. Colon Semenza; 12. Dr Faustus: dramaturgy and disturbance Mark Thornton Burnett; 13. Edward II: Marlowe, tragedy and the sublime Patrick Cheney; 14. Arden of Faversham: tragic action at a distance Mary Floyd-Wilson; 15. The Revenger's Tragedy: original sin and the allures of vengeance Heather Hirschfield; 16. The Tragedy of Mariam: legitimacy and maternal authority Mary Beth Rose; 17. The Changeling and the dynamics of ugliness Gordon McMullan; 18. The Duchess of Malfi: tragedy and gender Judith Haber; 19. 'Tis Pity She's a Whore: the play of intertextuality Emily C. Bartels.
Review
"This collection will be valuable both to specialists in English Renaissance tragedy and to readers new to the field."
-MARISSA GREENBERG,University of New Mexico ".. consists of essays on general topics, with emphasis on a wider range of plays than usual." -- Studies in English Literature
Review Quote
"This collection will be valuable both to specialists in English Renaissance tragedy and to readers new to the field." -MARISSA GREENBERG,University of New Mexico
Promotional "Headline"
Introducing the reader to important topics in English Renaissance tragedy, this Companion presents fresh readings of key texts.
Description for Bookstore
Combining discussion of key topics for the study of Renaissance tragedy with fresh readings of canonical and frequently-taught texts, this Companion provides an engaging overview of Renaissance tragedy which features but is not dominated by Shakespeare. It includes chapters on religion, revenge, and modern performance traditions on stage and screen.
Description for Library
Combining discussion of key topics for the study of Renaissance tragedy with fresh readings of canonical and frequently-taught texts, this Companion provides an engaging overview of Renaissance tragedy which features but is not dominated by Shakespeare. It includes chapters on religion, revenge, and modern performance traditions on stage and screen.
Details
ISBN0521734649
Author
Emma Smith
Year
2010
ISBN-10
0521734649
ISBN-13
9780521734646
Media
Book
Short Title
CAMBRIDGE COMPANION TO ENGLISH
Language
English
Imprint
Cambridge University Press
Place of Publication
Cambridge
Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Edited by
Garrett A. Sullivan
DEWEY
822.309
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Series
Cambridge Companions To Literature
Pages
294
Publication Date
2010-08-12
Format
Paperback
Illustrations
6 Halftones, black and white
Audience
College/Higher Education
UK Release Date
2010-08-12
AU Release Date
2010-08-12
NZ Release Date
2010-08-12