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Post by shaxper on Apr 3, 2002 14:25:24 GMT -5
Anyone up for reading Harold Bloom's controversial take on Shakespeare's characters? I've flipped through it and am intrigued by his passion and strong opinions, but I've yet to read it through. Who's with me? I'm sure every college library has a copy (and probably most public libraries too).
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Desdemona
Money Lender
He was not of an age, but for all time!
Posts: 39
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Post by Desdemona on Apr 3, 2002 14:49:23 GMT -5
I've been looking for some renaissance drama texts I would like to read and here's a list of the ones that I'm most interested in: Dido, Queen of Carthage - Marlowe The Massacre At Paris - " The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus - " Tamburlaine - " The Jew of Malta - " The Spanish Tragedy - Kyd The Wars of Caesar and Pompey - Chapman Midas - Lyly Sappho and Phao - Lyly Maybe I shouldn't say it out loud, but no, I haven't read any of these plays before. It's probably almost a disgrace (certainly not having read the Marlowe dramas), but well... there are some other books I need to read first (for classes and for myself). Is anyone interested in reading one of the above? I must say that I won't have the time to read these works until July, because I have some exams coming up and like I said, I still have some other books to read (that probably won't interest any of you) so... Let me know which ones you prefer and I'll make time during summer break!
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Post by shaxper on Apr 3, 2002 14:54:04 GMT -5
Some excellent choices! Of those, I've only read Faustus, Tamberlaine (1, not 2) and The Spanish Tragedy. I'm always up for more Marlowe, but any of those sound good!
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Desdemona
Money Lender
He was not of an age, but for all time!
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Post by Desdemona on Apr 3, 2002 15:23:16 GMT -5
What about 'Dido, Queen Of Carthage' or 'The Massacre At Paris'? I don't know which one I want to read first... can't choose.
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Post by shaxper on Apr 3, 2002 16:55:33 GMT -5
Either would be fine, but it would really be a shame if you missed out on Faustus and Tamburlaine. They're truly two of the most underappreciated plays of the Renaissance, and I wouldn't mind reading either again.
If you're in a Middleton frame of mind, The Changeling, A Chaste Maid in Cheapside, or 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (was that Middleton? I forget) are also very unlike but very wonderful plays that people rarely get to see or read these days.
There's so much good stuff out there! I'll go along with anything ;D ;D ;D
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Post by shaxper on Apr 5, 2002 13:26:02 GMT -5
Why don't we go with Doctor Faustus. I'd love to read it again, and its one that everyone should know. I don't think Ganymede's read it either.
There are two versions of the text. I don't remember many of the differences, other than the fact that B text has all the Pope kicking. We could always read both and compare.
By the way, I'm ashamed to say I know nothing about Chapman and Lyly. Would you tell me a little bit about them?
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Desdemona
Money Lender
He was not of an age, but for all time!
Posts: 39
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Post by Desdemona on Apr 5, 2002 14:24:25 GMT -5
Okay, Dr. Faustus sounds good. I don't know which version I'm going to be reading--depends on the library, but I'll let you know. About Chapman and Lyly... I cannot say I know much about them, but here are some things I remember: I'll start with Chapman, because about him I know the least: he was a contemporary of our beloved Shakespeare, but I don't know wether they've ever met. Chapman was a poet, a dramatist and above all a translator of classical Greek and Latin texts (Homer, Seneca,...). Like eg. Seneca he was a stoic, which is reflected in his work; most of the time he wrote about a stoic hero whose downfall is caused by this one tragic flaw. His supposedly most famous works are 'Bussy D'Ambois' and 'The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Byron', but I have to admit I had NEVER heard these titles before. And then there is John Lyly, also an Elizabethan poet and dramatist. I guess you've heard of his 2 most famous books: 'Euphues, or the Anatomy of Wit' and 'Euphues and His England'. Hence his style is called 'euphuism'; it's very artificial and elaborate, full of parallellisms and repetitions, rethorical questions, ornaments, exaggeration, antitheses, exotic imagery, wordplay (puns, alliterations, wit), ... He shows off his knowledge all the time, especially about classical Greek and Latin writers, to which he alludes constantly. All this to achieve his one main goal: raising English prose in the vernacular to the level of the classics. I don't know if he succeeded, since I haven't read any of his works, but who knows, maybe I will some day..
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Post by shaxper on Apr 5, 2002 14:33:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! I'm familiar with the tragic format Chapman set up, but not with Chapman, himself. I feel silly. yes I've heard of John Lyly. For some reason, I didn't recognize him without the "John" attached I wonder if Shakespeare was all that familiar with Lyly. Folks often attribute the elevation of the English vernacular to Shakespeare for using the same skills you describe Lyly as having used. I've never read anything by Lyly. I'm only familiar with the name. So, to review: This board's all-knowing administrator has never heard of Chapman, never read Lyly, and never finished Julius Caesar. Someone stick a knife in my back quickly
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Post by shaxper on Apr 5, 2002 14:41:46 GMT -5
I'm going to lock this thread now, since we've now established an active reading club thread. If anyone would like to continue discussing Chapman and Lyly (please do! I want to learn more!!!) then please start a topic about them in the "Shakespeare's Contemporaries" forum.
Thanks!
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