EARLY SHAKESPEARE

Shakespeare and the 1590s Style

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The project explores how the early style of Shakespeare's dramatic and non-dramatic works written before 1595, which remains one of the least explored areas in Shakespeare studies, was shaped through a range of influences that came from withing England, European tradition of rhetoric, and classical sources. Critics have often thought of that style in terms of form (language) only, not as a product of a complex interplay of historical, political, ideological, and artistic influences brining 'modernity' England. However, a comparative analysis of the style of Shakespeare's early works within the historical context, modern literary and critical theories, especially an interdisciplinary research involving rhetoric (language and style), history, religion, and visual arts (sculptures and paintings), and the contemporary theories of identity, performance, and nation formation will show that Shakespeare's early style was far more 'European' and 'humanist' in origin than it has been hitherto assumed because he relied heavily on two traditions available to him: one was the persistent influence of the classical and European humanist literature on the English tradition in the 1590s (the most important decade in the emergence in the formation of English literature) and the growing import of European style in the visual arts and architecture in England, which became apparent in London, when Shakespeare arrived there. I propose to write a monograph on this topic, and a major academic publisher in the UK has already expressed an interest in it, and I plan to organize an international conference at UC Cork and publish a volume of essays based on that conference. The study aims to develop a comparative and European approach to interpreting Shakespeare's early style as well as the idea of 'early' style in the aesthetics of the 1590s. One key aspect will be to use interdisciplinary and comparative approach to explore the differing European appraoches to stylistic formation.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded project on the early works of Shakespeare revealed that the playwright was much more influenced by European trends than previously thought.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Shakespeare's writing before 1595 has been little studied, largely due to criticism of his work for stylistic reasons. The scholarship that does exist states that Shakespeare was influenced by trends in England during the time period and, to a lesser extent, by Europe.

However, the project 'Shakespeare and the 1590s style' (EARLY SHAKESPEARE) showed that Shakespeare was much more influenced by European trends. Going against common positions, the project noted the value and aesthetics of Shakespeare's early works because of their blend of English and European humanist traditions.

The project was structured by combining historical and formalist methods of research on Shakespeare. The results of the research demonstrated that Shakespeare was influenced by Italian text, European concepts of epic and Ovidian themes.

Moreover, it highlighted how Shakespeare's 1590s' works reflect the interplay between English and European humanist rhetoric. Additionally, the project revealed the greater political, historical and cultural contexts of the time.

The project is significant because it enlarges the historical and cultural context in which Shakespeare's works are understood. On a greater level, it is expected to be influential due to its new take on literary scholarship.