| Synopsis: |
Offering a range of strategies for introducing the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries to students, this new volume pays full attention to the whole range of Shakespearean drama, with separate chapters on histories, comedies and tragedies. It also looks closely at his two most significant predecessors, Kyd and Marlowe, his closest rival, Jonson, his only known collaborator, Fletcher, and the other writers who influenced and carried forward the genres in which he worked. In addition, there are separate chapters on the genres which Shakespeare can to some extent be seen as avoiding or even deliberately writing against: satire, city comedy, and modes of performance oriented specifically towards private rather than public spaces. It thus offers a clear picture of both the ways in which Shakespearean drama is typical of its period and of the ways in which it is distinctive. Individual chapters include useful chronologies of works discussed and selective guides to further reading and resources, and the volume will be an essential read for all teachers of Shakespeare. |