ENG 310AShakespeare Slide 1

SHAKESPEAREThe Rape of Lucrece

The Phoenix and the Turtle

The Sonnets

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 2

The Rape of Lucrece: Literary Facts

• date• source• verse form• characters• parallels to other works

– revenge tragedies: in general; by Shakespeare– plays on political/sexual violence– suicide/death of innocent females

– dark sides of desire (see Sonnets 35, 129, 138, 144, etc.)

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 3

The Rape of Lucrece: Issues

• rapist’s inner world

• victim’s and audience’s reactions

• suicide self-debate

• rape and public political action

• literary allusions– Philomela/nightingale

– Troy story

– swan song

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 4

Plot/Scene Outline

• Lines

• 1-49

• 50-77

• 78-126

• 127-301

• 302-448

• 449-672

• 673-742

• motives for T’s lust (49)

• T’s arrival at L’s house (28)

• dinner conversation (49)

• T’s conscience vs. desire/lust * (175)

• T’s enters L’s bedroom (137)

• L’s resistance (124)

• rape and T’s escape (70)

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 5

Plot/Scene Outline, cont’d. -- Narrative Detail Read-Through• 743-1078

• 1079-1155

• 1156-1211

• 1212-1365

• 1366-1582

• 1583-1729

• 1730-1855

• L’s lament *** (336)

• Dawn & Rising (77)

• L contemplates suicide (56)

• maid and groom (154)

• Troy painting ** (217)

• L’s accusation & suicide (147)

• Responses & Outcome (126)

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 6

The Phoenix and the Turtle• verse form• allegorical birds symbolizing emotions and

virtues• phoenix legend, turtledove legend• paradox of 2 souls/qualities in one yet still

individuals• change of legend: no posterity for union of

beauty and truth/faithfulness

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 7

Shakespeare’s Sonnets (background)

• sonnet sequences (again)

• definition & examples

• fin amour elements– Petrarchan conceits (definition)

• subject matter: as much poetry as love or other topics

• useful Renaissance words & ideas

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 8

Shakespeare’s Sonnets, cont’d.

• date

• verse form

• dedicatee

• 2 main groups: 1-126 and 127-154– largest subgroup: 1-17

• images

• time - death - poetry theme cluster

ENG 310AShakespeare

Slide 9

Sonnets, cont’d.

• lower aspects of desire/lust– 20, 35-36, 136-38, 144-45

• higher aspects of love– 55, 60, 104, 116

• complex mix of themes