Shakespeare's Dramatic GenresThe history of genres, or kinds, of drama is one of contradictory traditions and complex cultural assumptions. The divisions established by the original edition of Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies (the First Folio, 1623) give shape to whole curricula; but, as Lawrence Danson reminds us in this lively book, there is nothing inevitable, and much unsatisfying, about that tripartite scheme. Yet students of Shakespeare cannot avoid thinking about questions of genre; often they are the unspoken reason why classrooms full of smart people fail to agree on basic interpretive issues. Danson's guide to the kinds of Shakespearean drama provides an accessible account of genre-theory in Shakespeare's day, an overview of the genres on the Elizabethan stage, and a provocative look at the full range of Shakespeare's comedies, histories, and tragedies. |
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Page 23
... person , there is no unity ' ; those ' varied things ' belong to one person but not to one action or plot . A tragedy ends , not because the actors stop talking , but because the action has completed itself , and only that which has a ...
... person , there is no unity ' ; those ' varied things ' belong to one person but not to one action or plot . A tragedy ends , not because the actors stop talking , but because the action has completed itself , and only that which has a ...
Page 27
... person coming to harm nor an entirely bad person coming to good , for either situation would be too shocking or repellent to produce pity and fear ; nor should it represent an entirely bad person coming to harm , for that would produce ...
... person coming to harm nor an entirely bad person coming to good , for either situation would be too shocking or repellent to produce pity and fear ; nor should it represent an entirely bad person coming to harm , for that would produce ...
Page 71
... person named Cesario is actually Viola , and that person you thought was Cesario is actually Sebastian , and the person who loves her is Orsino , who thought he loved Olivia until it was discovered that Olivia is the person who loves ...
... person named Cesario is actually Viola , and that person you thought was Cesario is actually Sebastian , and the person who loves her is Orsino , who thought he loved Olivia until it was discovered that Olivia is the person who loves ...
Contents
The Genres Staged | 30 |
Mr William Shakespeares Comedies | 57 |
History | 86 |
Copyright | |
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