Annotated Bibliography
Comments(21) In order to help get things started, please take a look at the text you’ve been assigned to review — skim through it, read the introduction, take a peek at the table of contents, and so on. Then, please post in the comments section (for this post) 1) the full bibliographic entry for your work and 2) a brief description of its contents. You might give some thought to the kinds of papers for which the assigned text would prove useful. Is it helpful for thinking through any of the suggested essay prompts? Is it helpful, more generally, for producing papers on the subject of race? What about questions of genre? What did you like / not like about the text? Remember that this annotated bibliography is your resource. You’re putting it together for one another, so be as helpful as you can, and be mindful of the uses to which your classmates will be putting this material.
Hillman, David. Shakespeare’s Entrails. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. Print.
This book discusses a wide range of topics related to Shakespeare’s works and his representation of the innards of the physical body. Some of the topics discussed include the body-soul connection and the expression of emotions through physical ailments/actions. The primary area of focus is how the body in Shakespeare’s plays, particularly the innermost parts of the body, act as symbols and there is much discussion of why such symbols are so fascinating and effective.
Helpful for papers focusing on: The physical body, the mind-body connection, use of language
Spurgeon, Caroline F.E.. Shakespeare’s Image: And What it Tells Us. New York: Bentley House, 1971. Print.
This book is helpful for doing comparative analysis. It discusses several different recurring themes of imagery (e.g. light and dark, insanity, etc.) in Shakespeare’s works. It also highlights how Shakespeare’s works and perspectives compare to those of other playwrights and writers. There are plentiful references to specific lines and moments of particularly rich or significant usage of imagery within various works.
Helpful for papers focusing on: Imagery, overarching themes of tragedies, dramas, or comedies, language, popular notions at the time of Shakespeare vs. today.
1. Greenblatt, Stephen. Renaissance Self-Fashioning: From More to Shakespeare. Chicago: University Press, 1983
Greenblatt’s argument is that in the 16th century an “increased self consciousness about the fashioning of human identity as a manipulatable, artful process.”(p 2) In it he explores the creation of characters, the shaping of individual identities, and the experience of being shaped by outside forces. He writes extensively in part 5 about Marlowe and the Jew of Malta and what it is supposed to teach us through the character of Barabas. Good source for the outsider essay as well as any essay focusing on the Jew of Malta.
2. Hamilton, Clayton Meeker. “The Psychology of Theater Audiences.” The Theory of the Theatre, and Other Principles of Dramatic Criticism. New York: H. Holt and, 1910. 18-33.
The psychology of audiences chapter is an attempt to understand the inherent differences between drama and all other literary forms by examining the mentality of the audience and how it differs. Individuals lose their unique characteristics during the time of the performance and take on a collective mentality. This mentality is often overly emotional, easily deceived, and very susceptible to the whims of the characters. I recommend this for the metatheatre essay and also as a general resource to understand theatre on a deeper level. (This would have been extremely helpful at the beginning of the class.)
Foucault, Michel. Discipline & Punish: The Birth of the Prison. New York: Vintage Books; Random House, 1995
Foucault offers an analysis of the change in the penal systems by focusing on the role changing views of the body and power influenced the systems evolution. The discussion ranges from eradicating public “theatrical” tortures to more regimented prison systems. “The body as the major target of penal repression disappeared” (p8).
This book would be a significant aid to anyone working on the Spanish Tragedy. Specifically part 1 and 3.1
1. Paster, Gail. The Body Embarrassed: Drama and the Siscipline of Shame in Early Modern England. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1993.
This book is useful for those who would like to write about the perceived interpretations of the human body. Texts analyzed include The Witch of Edmonton and Shakespeare plays (though not ones we read in class). Still, Paster makes interesting points about shame for both men and women, though I found her thoughts on pregnancy fascinating. Also, it’s actually not a bad read.
2. Shakespearean Studies In Shame
Nancy A. Cluck
Shakespeare Quarterly
Vol. 36, No. 2 (Summer, 1985), pp. 141-151
Cluck explores ‘shame’ and ‘shamelessness.’This will be helpful for those writing about King Lear. Cluck gives titles to other valuable works on shame, and explores the causes and effects of shame, like in Lear’s case.
Mazzio, Carla. The Inarticulate Renaissance: language trouble in an age of eloquence
Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2009.
This book will be helpful for those using The Spanish Tragedy in their research papers. The focus of the book is largely on speech and what role foreign languages play not only in the play-within- a-play, Soliman and Perseda, but the entire play itself. The use of foreign languages within the play serves as a commentary to many aspects of society during this time, including national sentiment, law and education. A section on the plot logic of the play is also included. This source will be very helpful for the second essay prompt, metatheatrical moments and how they function in plays.
Lim, Walter S. H. “Surety and Spiritual Commercialism in The Merchant of Venice”. SEL Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900: 50.2 ( 2010 Spring), pp. 355-381.http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/studies_in_english_literature/v050/50.2.lim.html
This journal article focuses on how Shakespeare uses the relationship between usurer and merchant to make a commentary about sixteenth century England’s view on the practice of usury. There is an in depth analysis of the role of usury in sixteenth century England as well as in Jewish society. The importance of economy and wealth are also analyzed within the play. This source would be helpful when writing about the theme of economy and how the Judeo Christian relationship relates to it.
De Grazia, Margreta and Stanley Wells, The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001.
The book contains several essays that cover a range of topics in Shakespearean literature going from: Shakespeare’s life, what he read, the genres he covered in his plays, how he portrayed gender and sexuality in his works, the theater during his time and later, and much more. This book can be used for anyone who will write about anything relating to Shakespeare because it is an all-encompassing book.
Metzger, Mary Janell. “`Now by my hood, a Gentle and no Jew’: Jessica, The Merchant of Venice, and discourse of early..” PMLA: Publications of the Modern Language Association of America 113.1 (1998): 52. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 12 May 2011.
This article by Metzger gives an in-depth analysis of Jessica from Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice”. It combines religion, gender, and class and analyzes Jessica in comparison to other characters in those terms. This article would be good for anyone who will be writing about the “Merchant of Venice” but it can also be used by those writing about the roles of religion, gender and class divisions (as was mentioned before).
Dollimore, Jonathan. Radical tragedy: religion, ideology, and power in the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1984.
This text defines and provides context for “radical tragedy” and theater, which it explains focuses on creating a scandal and challenging and exposing “illusory beliefs” and ideologies. This book would be perfect for someone writing on The Revenger’s Tragedy, particularly on the parody or mockery of providence and/or notions of sexuality, power, and death. It would also work for anyone writing on King Lear, particularly about themes such as humanism, redemption, pity, and suffering.
Bartels, Emily C. Speaking of the Moor: From Alcazar to Othello. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008.
This text discusses the recurring character of the “moor” in various plays. It explores the central question of identity and comes to the conclusion that the moor, rather than an “alien” is a “figure of uncodified and uncodifiable diversity.” The text makes various references to Marlowe’s Jew of Malta and includes a chapter on Aaron in Titus, questioning whether he is an “outsider” or whether he is a dumping ground for Rome’s attempt to lay down the law about racial and cultural purity.
Gurr, Andrew, “Playgoing in Shakespeare’s London.”, Cambridge University Press, 1987.
This book is broken down into 4 different sections: Physical conditions, Social composition, Mental composition, and the evolution of tastes. The physical conditions deal with the playhouses, theaters, etc. Social composition dealt with the different social classes of the playgoers. The mental composition is an analysis of the audience as well. And the evolution of tastes is a chronological order of the different genres of plays that were performed in different times.
Weiss, Wolfgang, “The debate about Shakespeare’s character, morals, and religion in nineteenth-century Germany.”, Critical Survey. 21.3, Sept. 2009, p.87-103.
In the essay we receive views from different German scholars that discusses the naturalization of Shakespeare along with his religious background.
Following are Alesia’s entries:
Mullaney, Steven. “Civic Rites, City Sites: The Place of the Stage.” Staging the Renaissance: Reinterpretations of Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama. Ed. David S. Kastan and Peter Stallybrass. New York: Routledge, n.d. 17-26. Print.
Mullaney describes how in London, people’s desire to isolate and expel anything out of the ordinary or sickly led to the formation of city outskirts, which was filled with social outcasts (leprosy sufferers, prisoners). It was also considered a place of vague order of social behavior, a place on the margins/away from civilized city, where people traveled to let loose and visit gaming houses, marketplaces, taverns and brothels. This is precisely the place where playhouses appeared and flourished – “dislocated from the strict confines of the social order.” (p.25)
Silverstone, Catherine. “Shakespeare live: reproducing Shakespeare at the ‘new’ Globe Theatre.” Textual Practice 19.1 (2005): 31-50. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 11 May 2011.
The article talks about the challenges modern actors face when reproducing Shakespeare’s play in the ‘new’ Globe theater. It explains how the actors have to adopt not only architecture, clothing and language of the time, but also the mindset and acting techniques. In addition the author talks about the actors’ portrayal of desire and gendered behavior and also conceptions of the modern audiences.
Howard, Jean E. Theater of a City: The Places of London Comedy, 1598-1642. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, n.d. Print.
The author makes a claim that because of London’s large and fast-growing population in the 16-17th century and city’s function as the center of economic, demographic and political change it became an ideal place for theater development and success. A dynamic heterogeneous city setting became a breading ground for sources of public entertainment, especially theater, since it addressed the pressing issues of urban life such as “the influx of foreigners and strangers, ways of making money and losing it, and changing gender roles within the metropolis.”(p.2-3) The author argues that theater helped create a new social space: drama/plays were central in constructing and interpreting the city, and in itself were ‘mixing bowls’ of diverse social interaction.
1.
Howard, Jean. The Stage and Social Struggle in Early Modern England. New York: Routledge, 1994
This book is about a study of the social and cultural function of early modern theater. It examines the “political consequences” of Renaissance stage plays, and how it represents “those people and groups who engage in theatrical practices.”
2.
Villain or Victim: The Role of Shylock in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice
Derrick Bryson
This article gives facts and analysis of The Merchant of Venice and lets the reader decide whether they see Shylock as a villain or a victim. It will be helpful for those who are interested in writing about Shylock because I find him to be an intresting character who raises contraversies.
1. Goldberg, Jonathan.
Sodometries: Renaissance texts, modern sexualities. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1992. Print.
“Johnathan Goldberg discusses representations of “sodomy” (or, what he calls “sodomites”) on the context of sexuality, gender inequality, and political systems. Although
it is noted that the theatre was a platform to express different sodomies, Goldberg argues historical accounts that go beyond the stage reveal more about the political and social systems of the Renaissance culture. Beyond this, Goldberg talks about how prevaricating gender identities could lead to social mobility, and is arguably a form of sodomy; a favorable identity (typically female-cross dressed as a male) allows access into a privileged, new and unfamiliar world.
Part two of the book is probably the most useful for those interested in talking about Marlowe’s and Shakespeare’s cross-dressed characters and the loving friendships between characters. Another theme briefly discussed was the transformations of homosexuality: first viewed as a “failed” sexuality”, homosexuality was confined to the highly idealized bond between male friends: (Sebastian and Antonio/Antonio and Bassanio). Then homosexuality (for males) began to be viewed as an overindulgence in feminine behaviors (this coincides with homophobic sentiments), and lastly, a pathology.
In the last part, Goldberg expands sodomy as sexual practice into a social-global practice. He does this comparing the idea of penetration—the primary physical act in sodomy—with country invasion (i.e. “penetrating the boundaries”).
I would recommend this book as a starting point for you to generate an interesting thesis, however, it is limited in how much exposure with analyzing Marlowe and Shakespeare—only a few pages are on the actual characters in the plays we read.
2. Shupack, Paul M.
Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature
Vol. 9, No. 1, Boalt Hall: Law and Literature Symposium. Part 2 (Spring – Summer, 1997), pp. 67-105
The second article talks about themes of justice and Natural themes in King Lear. It starts off with the Samuel Johnson Quote about Cordelia’s Death and ties it in with the ideas and perceptions at the time, as we recall he was shocked. A second section talks about Kingship and “rightful” rulers. This again ties into nature and justice by looking at the two types of kings: one with Absolute power, and one of a Constitutional Monarchy. This is useful for those who want to talk about Lear in context of the social/political events on the time, as well as, the reoccuring themes of the invole what’s Natural or justice.
1. Crawford, Kevin. “A ‘Black, Black, Black Man’: Aaron’s Represented Blackness on Stage and Screen”. Journal x: A Journal in Culture and Criticism: 7.2 ( 2003 Spring), pp. 101-28.
This journal article is helpful if you are focusing on racism, especially as it is portrayed in Titus Andronicus. It is also helpful to those looking as the theatrical production itself and how Titus Andronicus and Aaron’s “blackness” was portrayed on stage and in performance.
Kantorowicz, Ernst. The King’s Two Bodies. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997. Print.
Kantorwicz’s book delves in to an extensive study of the concept of “the King’s Two Bodies,” the “body natural” and the “body politic.” One is corporeal and temporary, while the other is ever lasting and transcends the physical realm. The “body natural” grows old, becomes sick, and eventually dies. It is the vessel that the ageless spiritual “body politic” inhabits. When the “body natural” meets its natural end, the “body politic” does not wither away, it transfers to another “body natural,” and continues to maintain the law of the land. These concepts, which preserved the authority and legitimacy of the British monarchy by allocating broad powers to the king, has been challenged by many especially through writing., such as Shakespeare in King Richard II.
*Although this is a play that we did not read, this would be a useful source for anyone who is writing a paper that focuses on the body or authority.
Grimmett, Roxanne. ‘By Heaven and Hell’: Re-evaluating Representations of Women and the Angel/Whore Dichotomy in Renaissance Revenge Tragedy. Journal of International Women’s Studies. Vol. 6.3 p 31-39. July 2005
The above article, as the title implies, looks in to the Elizabethan dichotomy of feminine behavior and character. It was a common belief of the era that a woman was either chaste like an angel or tainted like a whore. There was no readily accepted middle ground for female behavior. Women were expected to remain “Chase, Silent, and Obedient” to maintain “social control of the female.” Those who failed to uphold these ideals, who failed to keep their bodies “silent” gave up their chastity and ultimately embodied the nature of a whore. The author refutes this mainstream Elizabethan concept by closely examining the female characters in Renaissance revenge tragedies, mainly focusing on Bel-Imperia, from Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy, and Ophelia, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, who seem to occupy a niche that does not correspond to either category.
Hall, Kim F. Things of Darkness: Economies of Race and Gender in Early Modern England. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1996. Print.
Kim Hall’s Things of Darkness: Economies of Race and Gender in Early Modern England deals with, s the title blatantly states, race and gender. Two chapters of interest would be the Introduction, and Chapter 5. Pertaining to race, the chapters create the distinction between skin colors, white and black, and the mindset of people in “Early Modern England.” Hall begins by commenting on the difficulty that arises from the labels “black” and “white.” In addition, she notes the objectification and racism that was placed on those of darker skinner color. In Chapter 5, Hall continues with the question of race, but also explains an interesting connection between race, women, and their affect on “whiteness.”
The book would be great for anyone working with Titus Andronicus, The Jew of Malta, and The Spanish Tragedy,
Griffin, Eric. “Ethos, Empire, and the Valiant Acts of Thomas Kyd’s Tragedy of ‘the Spains'”. English Literary Renaissance: 31.2 ( 2001 Spring), pp. 192-229.
Quite possibly the most in-depth critical essay about The Spanish Tragedy. Eric Griffin talks about a lot of stuff…he really gets into religion, Bel-Imperia, as well as sort of new-historicism approach to the play. It is a dense, dense read, but if you are writing on The Spanish Tragedy, you WILL find something in this essay
2. McCabe, Richard A. “‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore and Incest”. pp. 309-20. Sullivan, Garrett A. (ed.); Cheney, Patrick (ed.) and Hadfield, Andrew (ed.) Early Modern English Drama: A Critical Companion. New York, NY: Oxford UP, 2006. xiii, 338 pp.
Judging from the title it’s pretty obvious how this piece would be helpful. If you’re looking into the incestuous brother/sister relationship in Tis Pity She’s a Whore which is then contrasted by that of Sebastion and Viola in Twelfth night this book article would be helpful.
GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies. 10.3, 2004
Explores concepts of same-sex friendship. Friendships in England, for instance, were determined by their level of physical (and verbal) intimacy, wherein intentions were made clear through such actions. Ideal for discussions surrounding ambiguous/hetero-flexible dynamics.
Note: Some of the earlier articles focus on remembering Alan Bray and his contributions to the field. Although they primarily sing his praises, the authors feature some relevant and thoroughly informative factoids from time to time.
Sexual Morality: Is Consent Enough?
Igor Primoratz
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice
Vol. 4, No. 3, Cultivating Emotions (Sep., 2001), pp. 201-218
Published by: Springer
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27504193
Explores notions of sexuality and morality as defined by social constructs. Certainly useful for discussions surrounding taboo, religion, and love. The topic of ‘consent’ raises issues of what is permissible within a societal structure versus independent existence. Catholic prohibition on ‘sodomy’ can readily be juxtaposed with the abundant humorous (and not clandestine/appalling) references within our syllabus.
Startling footnote regarding the existence of sexual dynamics that are deemed ‘beyond consent’.