Theatre and Humanism English Drama in the Sixteenth Century [Paperback]

An account of one hundred years of English drama 14901590.English drama at the beginning of the sixteenth century was allegorical, didactic and moralistic; but by the end of the century theatre was censured as emotional and even immoral. How could such a change occur? Kent Cartwright suggests that some theories of early Renaissance theatre need to to be reconsidered. He proposes that humanist drama of the sixteenth century is theatrically exciting and socially significant, and he attempts to integrate popular and humanist values rather than setting them against each other.English drama at the beginning of the sixteenth century was allegorical, didactic and moralistic; but by the end of the century theatre was censured as emotional and even immoral. How could such a change occur? Kent Cartwright suggests that some theories of early Renaissance theatre need to to be reconsidered. He proposes that humanist drama of the sixteenth century is theatrically exciting and socially significant, and he attempts to integrate popular and humanist values rather than setting them against each other.English drama at the beginning of the sixteenth century was allegorical, didactic and moralistic; but by the end of the century theater was censured as emotional and even immoral. How could such a change occur? Kent Cartwright suggests that some theories of early Renaissance theater need to be reconsidered. He proposes that humanist drama of the sixteenth century is theatrically exciting and socially significant, and he attempts to integrate popular and humanist values rather than setting them against each other.Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1. The humanism of acting: John Heywood's The Foure PP; 2. Wit and Science and the dramaturgy of learning; 3. Playing against type: Gammer Gurton's Needle; 4. Time, tyranny and suspense in political drama of the 1560s; 5. Humanism and the dramatizing of women; 6. The confusions of Gallathea: John Lyly as popular dramatist; 7. Bearing witness to TamlcW