English Literature III (2008/2009)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at offering a panorama of the various aspects of English Renaissance theatre, in its economic, historical, cultural and philosophical elements. In particular it will take into consideration the images of power as reflected in some plays of the period

PROGRAMMA:
“L’illusione del potere: potere e politica nel teatro del rinascimento”
“The illusion of power: power and politics in English Renaissance theatre”


BIBLIOGRAFIA
TESTI: W.Shakespeare, King Lear
W.Shakespeare: Julius Caesar
C.Marlowe: Dr Faustus

(I testi possono essere letti in qualunque edizione critica)

TESTI CRITICI:
Stephen Orgel, The Illusion of Power. Political Theatre in the English Renaissance, Univ.of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles and London, 1975
Andrew Hadfield, Shakespeare and Renaissance Politics, Arden, London, 2004

MANUALE:
D.Daiches, A Critical History of English Literature (dalle origini alla chiusura dei teatri nel 1642)

Assessment will be by oral exam. Students will have to demonstrate their capacity to discuss the main themes of the programme, their skill in connecting the different theoretical approaches to the analysis of the texts, and inserting the texts into the trends and characteristics of Renaissance society.