Wednesday, Feb. 18Wednesday, Feb. 18

Othello, Midsummer Night’s Othello, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV, Dream, Henry IV, and and Twelfth Twelfth

NightNight (whew) (whew)

TodayToday

Othello Othello acted by Lindsey, Indra, Cynthia, acted by Lindsey, Indra, Cynthia, and Imanand Iman

Quiz on Twelfth Night. Quiz on Twelfth Night. Discuss ways in which Twelfth Night is and is Discuss ways in which Twelfth Night is and is

not a comedy.not a comedy. The Romance GenreThe Romance Genre Themes in Twelfth Night?Themes in Twelfth Night?

BreakBreak Midsummer Night’s DreamMidsummer Night’s Dream acted by acted by

Dominique, David, Kimberly, and JonathanDominique, David, Kimberly, and Jonathan Different critical approaches, as seen in Different critical approaches, as seen in

Henry IVHenry IV

RomanceRomance

Usually the late Shakespearean plays: Usually the late Shakespearean plays: Winter’s TaleWinter’s Tale The TempestThe Tempest CymbelineCymbeline PericlesPericles Popular Elizabethan mode, including:Popular Elizabethan mode, including:

Shipwrecks, rediscovery of long lost brothers & sisters, Shipwrecks, rediscovery of long lost brothers & sisters, physical marks of recognition, rebirth from the seaphysical marks of recognition, rebirth from the sea

Usually a narrative genre, which would give rise to the Usually a narrative genre, which would give rise to the modern novelmodern novel

Turns on epiphany (“revealing manifestation, sudden Turns on epiphany (“revealing manifestation, sudden flash of insight, or a sudden recognition of identity”) flash of insight, or a sudden recognition of identity”) and moments of rebirthand moments of rebirth

Critical Perspectives on Critical Perspectives on Henry Henry IVIV

New CriticismNew CriticismMyth CriticismMyth CriticismPsychological CriticismPsychological CriticismDeconstructionDeconstructionQueer TheoryQueer TheoryNew HistoricismNew Historicism

Myth CriticismMyth Criticism Literature is not just very special words on a page, but is in a Literature is not just very special words on a page, but is in a

continuum with the oldest tribal rituals, and that literature is a continuum with the oldest tribal rituals, and that literature is a cultural practicecultural practice of our society in which we tell ourselves of our society in which we tell ourselves as a as a communitycommunity who we are, partly by telling ourselves what we were. who we are, partly by telling ourselves what we were. Falstaff harks back to the ancient English fertility rituals in which one Falstaff harks back to the ancient English fertility rituals in which one

person got to be King for the year, and then would be killed at the person got to be King for the year, and then would be killed at the Winter Solstice to bring fertility in for the new year. In "countries gone Winter Solstice to bring fertility in for the new year. In "countries gone waste and barren under the rule of an old, impotent, and guilty king, waste and barren under the rule of an old, impotent, and guilty king, who must be ritually slain and supplanted by his son or another before who must be ritually slain and supplanted by his son or another before the saving rains come, bringing purification and regeneration." The the saving rains come, bringing purification and regeneration." The King figures in these rituals were killed and eaten, and then a new one King figures in these rituals were killed and eaten, and then a new one was inaugurated.was inaugurated.

"Falstaff, in standing for the old king, symbolizes all the accumulated "Falstaff, in standing for the old king, symbolizes all the accumulated sin of the reign, all the consequent sterility of the land. But the young sin of the reign, all the consequent sterility of the land. But the young king draws his knife at the altar and "kills" Falstaff -- by rejecting him in king draws his knife at the altar and "kills" Falstaff -- by rejecting him in Part 2. Part 2.

According to myth criticism, we see ourselves in the mirror of the play. According to myth criticism, we see ourselves in the mirror of the play. We see ourselves as Hal who needs to redeem himself, as Hotspur who We see ourselves as Hal who needs to redeem himself, as Hotspur who needs to ask for help and slow down, as Falstaff when we indulge too needs to ask for help and slow down, as Falstaff when we indulge too much. Hal is then a folk hero. much. Hal is then a folk hero.

New CriticismNew Criticism There is a special concern with metaphor and language, There is a special concern with metaphor and language,

along with emphasis on paradox and irony. A work of art is along with emphasis on paradox and irony. A work of art is perfection in itself. Don't look at myths to which the perfection in itself. Don't look at myths to which the literature is connected or other works written the same year literature is connected or other works written the same year or the author's life, or the historical conditions -- JUST or the author's life, or the historical conditions -- JUST EXAMINE THE TEXT!EXAMINE THE TEXT! A. Trace a set of images through a text orA. Trace a set of images through a text or B. Look at one passage extremely closely (start with a short B. Look at one passage extremely closely (start with a short

passage and examine it) orpassage and examine it) or C. Look for irony and paradox within a text (this will eventually C. Look for irony and paradox within a text (this will eventually

become deconstruction)become deconstruction) Take a passage like Hal's early soliloquy and see how that Take a passage like Hal's early soliloquy and see how that

speech is a KEY to the whole play (images used, why he says it, speech is a KEY to the whole play (images used, why he says it, how it connects to other speeches and unifies the play)how it connects to other speeches and unifies the play)

Unity is important. Unity is important. To a true new critic, every single detail, every character, and To a true new critic, every single detail, every character, and

every line is a sign of the perfection of the text. You worship it.every line is a sign of the perfection of the text. You worship it. Look at the connection between the Content and the Form. Look at the connection between the Content and the Form.

DeconstructionDeconstruction Deconstructive critics emphasize passages, Deconstructive critics emphasize passages,

images, etc. but the assumption is the opposite images, etc. but the assumption is the opposite of New Criticism: that a given text is NOT of New Criticism: that a given text is NOT unified but is a tangled mesh of oppositions, unified but is a tangled mesh of oppositions, which will reveal themselves to the reader, that which will reveal themselves to the reader, that a text resists speaking with a single thread a text resists speaking with a single thread (pattern), but instead often has a subversive (pattern), but instead often has a subversive thread (SUBTEXT) working alongside and thread (SUBTEXT) working alongside and unravelling the one which conforms to society. unravelling the one which conforms to society. There is almost a contest for power within the There is almost a contest for power within the text.text. Hal the darling golden boy and England’s future Hal the darling golden boy and England’s future

greatest kinggreatest king vs. Hal the usurper, butcher, conqueror,vs. Hal the usurper, butcher, conqueror,

imperialistimperialist

PsychoanalyticPsychoanalytic There are old-style Freudian and post-Freudian readingsThere are old-style Freudian and post-Freudian readings --emphasis on Characters and settings representing Id, Ego, --emphasis on Characters and settings representing Id, Ego,

SuperEgoSuperEgo --Return of the Repressed--Return of the Repressed --Oedipus complexes (Electra complexes)--Oedipus complexes (Electra complexes) --childhood trauma, usually before 6, sometimes --childhood trauma, usually before 6, sometimes

adolescenceadolescence "Prince Hal's struggle against his father appears in isolation (no "Prince Hal's struggle against his father appears in isolation (no

sleeping with mother), enacted in male society. The defense sleeping with mother), enacted in male society. The defense which Prince Hal mobilizes in order to escape from his internal which Prince Hal mobilizes in order to escape from his internal predicament are well known from the clinical studies of male predicament are well known from the clinical studies of male youths, who see a faulty father figure, and therefore mirror youths, who see a faulty father figure, and therefore mirror back to the king the King's moral depravity. back to the king the King's moral depravity.

Hal mirrors back the King's depravity to him, and also acquires Hal mirrors back the King's depravity to him, and also acquires a substitute a substitute antithesisantithesis of Father in Falstaff. Then the Prince of Father in Falstaff. Then the Prince triumphs over both the Father and the Father substitute triumphs over both the Father and the Father substitute

Queer TheoryQueer Theory

More radical views hint at Oedipal More radical views hint at Oedipal stuff with Falstaff as Queen. stuff with Falstaff as Queen.

New HistoricismNew Historicism

This is like old historical approaches and a This is like old historical approaches and a rebellion against all 4 previous, especially new rebellion against all 4 previous, especially new criticism and deconstruction.criticism and deconstruction.

New H's say that you cannot understand a text New H's say that you cannot understand a text unless you understand it within its specific unless you understand it within its specific historical context. historical context.

Further, you understand the text as playing an Further, you understand the text as playing an active role in the life of a culture.active role in the life of a culture.

Marxist version: the text arises (basically Marxist version: the text arises (basically authorless) out of the social conditions.authorless) out of the social conditions.

New Historicism is more dialectical and sees New Historicism is more dialectical and sees interplay between text and culture, culture and interplay between text and culture, culture and text text