Shakespeare and Religion

This book sets Shakespeare in the religious context of his times, presenting a balanced, up-to-date account of current biographical and critical debates, and addressing the fascinating, under-studied topic of how Shakespeare''s writing was perceived by literary contemporaries, whose priorities were more obviously religious than his own. It advances new readings of several plays, including Hamlet, King Lear and The Winter''s Tale , and draws on under-exploited contemporary analogues, ranging from conversion narratives, books of devotion and polemical pamphlets to manuscript drama and emblems. This study describes a writer whose language is saturated in religious discourse but whose invariable practice is to subordinate religious matter to the aesthetic demands of the work. For Shakespeare, as for few of his contemporaries, the Judaeo-Christian story is something less than a master narrative.>

Product details

• Authors: Alison Shell, Alison (University College London Shell, Professor Alison (University College London Shell
• Assisted by: Alison Shell (Editor)
• Publisher: Arden shakespeare
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 29.01.2015
• EAN: 9781472568175
• ISBN: 978-1-4725-6817-5
• No. of pages: 320
• Series: Arden Critical Companions; Arden Critical Companions
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; Englisch, English, Literaturwissenschaft: Dramen und Dramatiker, LITERARY CRITICISM / Drama, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / General, Literary studies: c 1600 to c 1800, Shakespeare Studies & Criticism, Literary studies: plays and playwrights, Relating to Shakespeare / Shakespearean