Practical Class 2. Literature of the Renaissance Age. William Shakespeare

Theoretical questions: read and get ready to answer the questions during the class

• General characteristics of Renaissance. Ideas. Two periods of English Renaissance literature.

• Shakespeare’s predecessors in poetry: T.Wyatt, H. Howard, E. Spenser, Ph. Sidney. Main aim of poets. Achievements in the development of poetry.

• Shakespeare’s predecessors in drama. Theatre of the Renaissance period. “The University Wits”. Ch.Marlowe. B.Johnson.

William Shakespeare

Shakespeare authorship question

List the reliable facts of Shakespeare’s biography. Trace the history of Shakespeare authorship question.

Defend the position of “stratfordians” or “antistratfordians.” Which position do you like best: that of “marlowians”, “baconians”, “oxfordians” etc.? Prove your opinion. Prepare necessary factual materials (preferably visual, p.e. autographs, portraits, etc.)

Periodization

Three periods of Shakespeare’s creative work. Be ready to name Shakespeare’s works both in Russian and in English.

Sonnets

Stanza

What is stanza? What is sonnet? What kinds of stanza do you know? Which stanza is used in the following verses?

1)

So pure and innocent, as that same lambe,

She was in life and every vertuous lore,

And by descent from Royall lynage came

Of ancient Kings and Queenes, that had of yore

Their scepters stretcht from East to Westerne shore,

And all the world in their subjection held;

Till that infernall feend with foule uprore

Forwasted all their land, and them expeld:

Whom to avenge, she had this Knight from far compeld.

2)

The long love that in my thought doth harbor, And in mine heart doth keep his residence, Into my face presseth with bold pretense And therein campeth, spreading his banner. She that me learneth to love and suffer And will that my trust and lust's negligence Be reined by reason, shame, and reverence With his hardiness taketh displeasure. Wherewithal unto the heart's forest he fleeth, Leaving his enterprise with pain and cry, And there him hideth, and not appeareth. What may I do, when my master feareth, But in the field with him to live and die? For good is the life ending faithfully.

3)

When in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least,

Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven's gate,

For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings,

That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

Shakespeare’s addressees

The subjects of the sonnets are usually referred to as the Fair Youth, the Rival Poet, and the Dark Lady. Who is usually named asthe varied candidates?Find some information about each of them.

How are the sonnets distinguished according to the chosen subject? How does the concept of love differ?

Try to make up portrait and characteristics of the Fair Youth, the Rival Poet, and the Dark Lady using the sonnets:

• 127, 130, 131 – for the Dark Lady;

• 78-86 – for the Rival Poet;

• 1-126 – for the Fair Youth (also use articles mentioned in the bibliography).

Hamlet

Read the play “Hamlet”. If you have read it many years ago re-read it (and compare your attitude). If you read Russian translation try to find the translation by B. Pasternak (the translation by Lozinsky is also permitted).

The following positions will be discussed at the practical class:

• The world of courtly lies and hypocrisy;

• The theme of revenge and the theme of religious belief;

• Hamlet as the person of Renaissance: is Hamlet a humanist?

• Madness: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t” (Хоть это и безумие, но в нем есть последовательность);

• Word and silence (think over the last words pronounced by Hamlet);

• World = theatre; the importance of actors; play inside the play;

• Metaphor “Death – life – dream”;

To prepare for the discussion look through the questions using the following links:

http://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/hamletques.htm

http://english.sxu.edu/boyer/304_rdg_qst/ham_nor_qst.htm

Read famous Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be or not to be” in English.

Critical task: John Dover Wilson (inWhat Happens in Hamlet), commenting on the ‘to be or not to be’ speech, wrote: ‘He believes in immortality, which means that by death he may exchange one nightmare for a worse.’ How far do you think that Hamlet’s religious beliefs make it more difficult for him to reach decisions?

Compare different filmed versions of the ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy. State the difference between Hamlet in different actors’ interpretations.

L. Olivier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ks-NbCHUns&feature=related

K. Branagh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7740lGif65Y