Shakespeare's Theory of Drama [Paperback]

'This is a groundbreaking book, the kind it is hard to believe hasn't already been written.' Shakespeare SurveyWhy did Shakespeare write drama? Did he have specific reasons for his choice of this art form? Did he have clearly defined aesthetic aims in what he wanted drama to do--and why? Kiernan opens a new area of debate in showing that Shakespeare rejected many of the theories of his age on poetry, history and art to create an original theory of drama. This lively, readable but scholarly examination of works from different stages of the dramatist's career explores what Shakespeare wanted his drama to do and why.Why did Shakespeare write drama? Did he have specific reasons for his choice of this art form? Did he have clearly defined aesthetic aims in what he wanted drama to do--and why? Kiernan opens a new area of debate in showing that Shakespeare rejected many of the theories of his age on poetry, history and art to create an original theory of drama. This lively, readable but scholarly examination of works from different stages of the dramatist's career explores what Shakespeare wanted his drama to do and why.Why did Shakespeare write drama? Did he have specific reasons for his choice of this art form? Did he have clearly defined aesthetic aims in what he wanted drama to do--and why? Kiernan opens a new area of debate in showing that Shakespeare rejected many of the theories of his age on poetry, history and art to create an original theory of drama. This lively, readable, but scholarly examination of works from different stages of the dramatist's career explores what Shakespeare wanted his drama to do and why.1. Introduction; 2. Shakespeare and Sidney. Two worlds: the brazen and the golden; 3. Shakespeare and Ovid: 'What strain?d touches rhetoric can lend': poetry metamorphosed in Venus and Adonis and the Sonnets; 4. 'In scorn of nature, art gave lifeless life': exposing art's sterility. The Rape of Lucrece, The Winter's Tale and The Tempest; 5. 'O'er-wrested sls"