Cal
6th May 2004, 01:50 PM
My son did a paper for his IB 11th grade English Literature class that I thought might be interesting to this forum. It basically states that Shakespeare was a Protestant and deeply influenced by the Reformation. Here is his annotated bibliography:
Batson, E. Beatrice. Shakespeare and the Christian Tradition. Lewiston. The Edwin Mellen Press. 1994.
This book is a collection of essays about the influences of Christianity upon Shakespeare’s plays. I plan to use an essay in the book regarding the Reformation themes in Henry VIII to show how the Shakespeare was influenced by the Reformation.
Bloom, Allan with Jaffa, Henry V. Shakespeare’s Politics. Chicago. The University of Chicago Press. 1986
Allan Bloom demonstrates that Shakespeare wanted to teach moral, political, and historical lessons in his play’s and that Shakespeare regarded monarchy as the best form of government. I plan to use this book to also demonstrate that Shakespeare was very political and as a political monarchy man he defended the Reformed Anglican Church in his plays.
Carter, T. Shakespeare Puritan and Recusant. New York. AMS Press. 1970.
This book focuses on the life of John Shakespeare, the father of William. He shows the Protestant and Puritan beliefs of Shakespeare’s father and then writes of the influence that John Shakespeare had on William. I plan to use this source to show that William Shakespeare was taught and embraced Christian Puritan ideals from an early age.
Crockett, Bryan. “Calvin and Caliban: Naming the Thing of Darkness.” University of Dayton Review. Spring 1991. Vol. 2 No.1
In this scholarly journal, Crockett points out that in Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, there are characters who have similar names and similar personalities to Christian Protestant heroes. Caliban sounds familiar to Calvin. Prospero may be named after Prosper of Aquitaine, who was a student of St. Augustine. I plan to use this source to show that The Tempest is a play filled with Reformation influences.
Crockett, Bryan. “Holy Cozenage and The Renaissance Cult of the Ear.” Sixteenth Century Journal. 1993. XXIV: 1. p 47-65
In this journal, Crockett teaches us the Reformation had a profound influence on Shakespeare’s plays, which focused on oral performances. Because the Protestants had a “reverence” for spoken words, and rejected Catholics’ love for visuals, oral performances were held in high regard. Thus, Crockett contends that the Reformation and its new love for the “Renaissance cult of the ear” influenced Shakespeare.
Fripp, Edgar I. Shakespeare Studies. London. Oxford University Press. 1930.
This book provides evidence that Shakespeare was raised in a Protestant home. Fripp makes a brilliant comparison of Shakespeare’s works to Dante’s Comedy. He highlights the fact that Shakespeare quoted directly from the Bible and used Biblical themes as opposed to Dante’s consistent references to classic Catholic sources and traditions.
Frye, Roland Mushat. “Prince Hamlet and the Protestant Confessional.” Theology Today. April 1982 Vol. 39, No. 1. p.27-32. http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1982/v39-1-article3.htm
Frye reveals that Shakespeare was greatly influenced by the Protestant form of confession of sins with Hamlet trying to strongly but gently bring his mother Gertrude to confess her sins to him and repent. This article refers to the Protestant scripture that influenced Shakespeare which was contrary to the Catholic private secret confession to a priest only. I plan to use this source to show that the themes in Hamlet are not only anti - Catholic but also strongly reformed.
Gless, Darrly J. Measure for Measure, The Law and the Convent. Princeton. Princeton University Press. 1979.
In this book, Gless points out that Shakespeare, in his play, Measure for Measure, consistently mocks the common Catholic convents and monasteries in which nuns and monks attempt to achieve salvation by the Law and works. I plan to use this source to prove Shakespeare’s anti – Catholic and hence Reformational tendencies.
Hunt, Maurice. “Reformation/Counter – Reformation Macbeth” Baylor University.
Hunt writes that there are many reformed themes in Macbeth. One of which is reprobation. In this essay Hunt explains that Macbeth is a reprobate, a person that is evil and cannot come to repentance. Also, I learned that the Catholic doctrine of Equivocation from early 1600’s is found in Macbeth when he justifies murder by saying that he is merely fulfilling the witches’ prophesy. I plan to use this source to show the consistent use of reformed doctrines in Macbeth.
Poole, Kristen. Radical Religion from Shakespeare to Milton: Figures in Nonconformity in Early Modern England. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 2000
Kristen Poole reveals the influence the Reformation had on Shakespeare’s storyline in the character Falstaff in Shakespeare’s plays 1Henry IV and Henry V. I plan to use this book to reveal the influences the Reformation had on Shakespeare’s storyline surrounding the character Falstaff in 1Henry IV and Henry V.
Ryken, Leland. Worldly Saints. Grand Rapids. Zondervan Publishing House. 1986.
In a chapter focusing on Shakespeare and his influences, Ryken compares Shakespeare’s plays to the Puritan sermons. He writes that both Puritan sermons and Shakespeare’s plays used very few if any visuals or excessive antics. I plan to use this source to show that Shakespeare avoided the Catholic tendency to have abundant art and leaned more toward Puritan rituals that focused on verbal imagery.
“Shakespeare Institutes.” Wheaton College. 1992-2003. Buswell Memorial Library. http://www.wheaton.edu/learnres/shakespeare/ 2/16/04
This website contains many lectures held at a conference at Wheaton College. The subject of all the lectures, some of which I have used and cited, is the influence of Christianity on Shakespeare and his plays. I was able to contact some of the professors to gain access to the transcripts of some of these lectures. I plan to use these transcripts to prove my thesis that Shakespeare was influenced by the Reformation.
Shakespeare, William. Cymbeline. Ontario. Penguin Books.1968
I plan to use this source to quote from as I explain how the reformation impacted this comedy. I will once again use Tiffany’s journal to support my claims.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Cambridge. Cambridge Univeristy Press. 2003 version. Editor: Rex Gibson.
As I have learned from many sources, this play puts a special emphasis on the ear. I plan to quote from Hamlet to prove that this play was influenced by the Protestant movement to focus on verbal rather than Catholic visual imagery.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York. Bantam Books. 1980
I plan to use this play and the sources that refer to it to show how reformational themes such as reprobation are present and supported by Shakespeare and how Catholic themes such as Equivocation are shown as silly and wrong.
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. London. Barron’s Educational Series Inc. 1986. Editor: Alan Durband.
I plan to use this play, and the sources I have that refer to it, to prove that The Tempest contains themes consistent with the Reformation.
Shakespeare, William. The Winter’s Tale. New York. Pocket Books. 1965
I plan to use this source to quote from as I explain how the reformation impacted this comedy. I will use Tiffany’s journal to support my claims.
Thomas, I.D.E. William Shakespeare and His Bible. Oklahoma City. Hearthstone Publishing. 2000.
This very informative book focuses on the life of Shakespeare, and devoted Protestant father who greatly influenced his son’s writings. I learned that Shakespeare quoted from the Geneva Bible, which his father used when raising Little Bill. I plan to use this source to show the fact that Shakespeare was raised in a reformed Protestant environment and how this upbringing influenced his plays.
Tiffany, Grace. “Calvinistic Grace in Shakespeare’s Romances: Upending Tragedy.” Christianity and Literature. Summer 2000. Vol 49, No. 4. p. 421-440
In this journal, John Calvin’s doctrines are discussed which sets up the comparison of his teachings to the themes found in The Tempest. Grace points out that Shakespeare was probably influenced by Calvin. I plan to use this to support my thesis by proving that Shakespeare was influenced by the leader of the Reformation.
Tiffany, Grace. “Hamlet and Protestant Aural Theatre.” Christianity and Literature. Spring 2003. Vol. 52, No. 3. P 307-324
Grace writes that Hamlet was a play which revolved around the ear, which Protestants were primarily concerned with. She shows us that there are many references to the physical ear, such as Old Hamlet’s death. By doing this, she answers the question of whether Hamlet was influenced by Catholic or Protestant ideals. I plan to use this source to show the Protestant and Reformation influences on Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.
Tiffany, Grace. “Puritanism in Comic History: Exposing Reality in the Henry Plays.” Shakespeare Studies. 1998. Vol. 26 p. 256-287
This journal refutes the belief that Puritans wanted to abolish plays and theatre. Tiffany explains that the Puritans in England merely wanted to reform the theatre from ungodliness as well as visually appealing plays (which the Catholics loved) to audibly appealing godly plays. I learned that Shakespeare style of archaic language was similar to that of the style of theatre that the Puritans loved.
White, Paul Whitfield. “Reforming Mysteries End: A New Look at Protestant Intervention in English Provincial Drama.” Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Winter 1999. Vol. 29 No.1. p 121-147.
White demonstrates the Reformation influence of theatre by showing us an actor, John Careless, who appeared only in reformed Biblical plays. He and others greatly influenced theatre in the mid 1500’s and he became a “Protestant folk hero” in the days of Queen Elizabeth. I plan to use this journal to prove the impact that the Reformation had on English Drama and hence, Shakespeare.
Willis, Garry. Witches & Jesuits: Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Oxford. Oxford University Press. 1995
Garry Willis, a Catholic, explains in this book that Macbeth was just one of many plays in its day that were gunpowder play’s. Willis reiterates the historical evidence that The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a plot by Catholic Jesuits to destroy England’s Parliament and King James and thus destroy the fruits of the Reformation. I plan to use this book to show how Shakespeare criticized the Catholic Church and it’s doctrine of equivocation in his play Macbeth.
Wright, Daniel L. Anglican Shakespeare: Elizabethan Orthodoxy in the Great Histories. Chapel Hill. Professional Press. 1994
Daniel Wright provides evidence that Shakespeare’s tetralogy history plays Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, and Henry V were written to defend the Tudor Crown, the Reformation and the Anglican Church. I plan to use the internal evidence within these plays themselves that Daniel Wright provides in his book to demonstrate how Shakespeare embraced and defended the Reformation through these plays.
Batson, E. Beatrice. Shakespeare and the Christian Tradition. Lewiston. The Edwin Mellen Press. 1994.
This book is a collection of essays about the influences of Christianity upon Shakespeare’s plays. I plan to use an essay in the book regarding the Reformation themes in Henry VIII to show how the Shakespeare was influenced by the Reformation.
Bloom, Allan with Jaffa, Henry V. Shakespeare’s Politics. Chicago. The University of Chicago Press. 1986
Allan Bloom demonstrates that Shakespeare wanted to teach moral, political, and historical lessons in his play’s and that Shakespeare regarded monarchy as the best form of government. I plan to use this book to also demonstrate that Shakespeare was very political and as a political monarchy man he defended the Reformed Anglican Church in his plays.
Carter, T. Shakespeare Puritan and Recusant. New York. AMS Press. 1970.
This book focuses on the life of John Shakespeare, the father of William. He shows the Protestant and Puritan beliefs of Shakespeare’s father and then writes of the influence that John Shakespeare had on William. I plan to use this source to show that William Shakespeare was taught and embraced Christian Puritan ideals from an early age.
Crockett, Bryan. “Calvin and Caliban: Naming the Thing of Darkness.” University of Dayton Review. Spring 1991. Vol. 2 No.1
In this scholarly journal, Crockett points out that in Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, there are characters who have similar names and similar personalities to Christian Protestant heroes. Caliban sounds familiar to Calvin. Prospero may be named after Prosper of Aquitaine, who was a student of St. Augustine. I plan to use this source to show that The Tempest is a play filled with Reformation influences.
Crockett, Bryan. “Holy Cozenage and The Renaissance Cult of the Ear.” Sixteenth Century Journal. 1993. XXIV: 1. p 47-65
In this journal, Crockett teaches us the Reformation had a profound influence on Shakespeare’s plays, which focused on oral performances. Because the Protestants had a “reverence” for spoken words, and rejected Catholics’ love for visuals, oral performances were held in high regard. Thus, Crockett contends that the Reformation and its new love for the “Renaissance cult of the ear” influenced Shakespeare.
Fripp, Edgar I. Shakespeare Studies. London. Oxford University Press. 1930.
This book provides evidence that Shakespeare was raised in a Protestant home. Fripp makes a brilliant comparison of Shakespeare’s works to Dante’s Comedy. He highlights the fact that Shakespeare quoted directly from the Bible and used Biblical themes as opposed to Dante’s consistent references to classic Catholic sources and traditions.
Frye, Roland Mushat. “Prince Hamlet and the Protestant Confessional.” Theology Today. April 1982 Vol. 39, No. 1. p.27-32. http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1982/v39-1-article3.htm
Frye reveals that Shakespeare was greatly influenced by the Protestant form of confession of sins with Hamlet trying to strongly but gently bring his mother Gertrude to confess her sins to him and repent. This article refers to the Protestant scripture that influenced Shakespeare which was contrary to the Catholic private secret confession to a priest only. I plan to use this source to show that the themes in Hamlet are not only anti - Catholic but also strongly reformed.
Gless, Darrly J. Measure for Measure, The Law and the Convent. Princeton. Princeton University Press. 1979.
In this book, Gless points out that Shakespeare, in his play, Measure for Measure, consistently mocks the common Catholic convents and monasteries in which nuns and monks attempt to achieve salvation by the Law and works. I plan to use this source to prove Shakespeare’s anti – Catholic and hence Reformational tendencies.
Hunt, Maurice. “Reformation/Counter – Reformation Macbeth” Baylor University.
Hunt writes that there are many reformed themes in Macbeth. One of which is reprobation. In this essay Hunt explains that Macbeth is a reprobate, a person that is evil and cannot come to repentance. Also, I learned that the Catholic doctrine of Equivocation from early 1600’s is found in Macbeth when he justifies murder by saying that he is merely fulfilling the witches’ prophesy. I plan to use this source to show the consistent use of reformed doctrines in Macbeth.
Poole, Kristen. Radical Religion from Shakespeare to Milton: Figures in Nonconformity in Early Modern England. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 2000
Kristen Poole reveals the influence the Reformation had on Shakespeare’s storyline in the character Falstaff in Shakespeare’s plays 1Henry IV and Henry V. I plan to use this book to reveal the influences the Reformation had on Shakespeare’s storyline surrounding the character Falstaff in 1Henry IV and Henry V.
Ryken, Leland. Worldly Saints. Grand Rapids. Zondervan Publishing House. 1986.
In a chapter focusing on Shakespeare and his influences, Ryken compares Shakespeare’s plays to the Puritan sermons. He writes that both Puritan sermons and Shakespeare’s plays used very few if any visuals or excessive antics. I plan to use this source to show that Shakespeare avoided the Catholic tendency to have abundant art and leaned more toward Puritan rituals that focused on verbal imagery.
“Shakespeare Institutes.” Wheaton College. 1992-2003. Buswell Memorial Library. http://www.wheaton.edu/learnres/shakespeare/ 2/16/04
This website contains many lectures held at a conference at Wheaton College. The subject of all the lectures, some of which I have used and cited, is the influence of Christianity on Shakespeare and his plays. I was able to contact some of the professors to gain access to the transcripts of some of these lectures. I plan to use these transcripts to prove my thesis that Shakespeare was influenced by the Reformation.
Shakespeare, William. Cymbeline. Ontario. Penguin Books.1968
I plan to use this source to quote from as I explain how the reformation impacted this comedy. I will once again use Tiffany’s journal to support my claims.
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Cambridge. Cambridge Univeristy Press. 2003 version. Editor: Rex Gibson.
As I have learned from many sources, this play puts a special emphasis on the ear. I plan to quote from Hamlet to prove that this play was influenced by the Protestant movement to focus on verbal rather than Catholic visual imagery.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. New York. Bantam Books. 1980
I plan to use this play and the sources that refer to it to show how reformational themes such as reprobation are present and supported by Shakespeare and how Catholic themes such as Equivocation are shown as silly and wrong.
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. London. Barron’s Educational Series Inc. 1986. Editor: Alan Durband.
I plan to use this play, and the sources I have that refer to it, to prove that The Tempest contains themes consistent with the Reformation.
Shakespeare, William. The Winter’s Tale. New York. Pocket Books. 1965
I plan to use this source to quote from as I explain how the reformation impacted this comedy. I will use Tiffany’s journal to support my claims.
Thomas, I.D.E. William Shakespeare and His Bible. Oklahoma City. Hearthstone Publishing. 2000.
This very informative book focuses on the life of Shakespeare, and devoted Protestant father who greatly influenced his son’s writings. I learned that Shakespeare quoted from the Geneva Bible, which his father used when raising Little Bill. I plan to use this source to show the fact that Shakespeare was raised in a reformed Protestant environment and how this upbringing influenced his plays.
Tiffany, Grace. “Calvinistic Grace in Shakespeare’s Romances: Upending Tragedy.” Christianity and Literature. Summer 2000. Vol 49, No. 4. p. 421-440
In this journal, John Calvin’s doctrines are discussed which sets up the comparison of his teachings to the themes found in The Tempest. Grace points out that Shakespeare was probably influenced by Calvin. I plan to use this to support my thesis by proving that Shakespeare was influenced by the leader of the Reformation.
Tiffany, Grace. “Hamlet and Protestant Aural Theatre.” Christianity and Literature. Spring 2003. Vol. 52, No. 3. P 307-324
Grace writes that Hamlet was a play which revolved around the ear, which Protestants were primarily concerned with. She shows us that there are many references to the physical ear, such as Old Hamlet’s death. By doing this, she answers the question of whether Hamlet was influenced by Catholic or Protestant ideals. I plan to use this source to show the Protestant and Reformation influences on Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.
Tiffany, Grace. “Puritanism in Comic History: Exposing Reality in the Henry Plays.” Shakespeare Studies. 1998. Vol. 26 p. 256-287
This journal refutes the belief that Puritans wanted to abolish plays and theatre. Tiffany explains that the Puritans in England merely wanted to reform the theatre from ungodliness as well as visually appealing plays (which the Catholics loved) to audibly appealing godly plays. I learned that Shakespeare style of archaic language was similar to that of the style of theatre that the Puritans loved.
White, Paul Whitfield. “Reforming Mysteries End: A New Look at Protestant Intervention in English Provincial Drama.” Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Winter 1999. Vol. 29 No.1. p 121-147.
White demonstrates the Reformation influence of theatre by showing us an actor, John Careless, who appeared only in reformed Biblical plays. He and others greatly influenced theatre in the mid 1500’s and he became a “Protestant folk hero” in the days of Queen Elizabeth. I plan to use this journal to prove the impact that the Reformation had on English Drama and hence, Shakespeare.
Willis, Garry. Witches & Jesuits: Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Oxford. Oxford University Press. 1995
Garry Willis, a Catholic, explains in this book that Macbeth was just one of many plays in its day that were gunpowder play’s. Willis reiterates the historical evidence that The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a plot by Catholic Jesuits to destroy England’s Parliament and King James and thus destroy the fruits of the Reformation. I plan to use this book to show how Shakespeare criticized the Catholic Church and it’s doctrine of equivocation in his play Macbeth.
Wright, Daniel L. Anglican Shakespeare: Elizabethan Orthodoxy in the Great Histories. Chapel Hill. Professional Press. 1994
Daniel Wright provides evidence that Shakespeare’s tetralogy history plays Richard II, 1 Henry IV, 2 Henry IV, and Henry V were written to defend the Tudor Crown, the Reformation and the Anglican Church. I plan to use the internal evidence within these plays themselves that Daniel Wright provides in his book to demonstrate how Shakespeare embraced and defended the Reformation through these plays.