Includes bibliographical references (p. [153]-165).
Contents:
Shakespeare's knowledge of classics -- Reading Roman history -- Impact of heavy Seneca -- Impact of light Plautus -- Pervasive presence of Ovid -- Matter of Virgil -- Uses of Latin -- Greek themes in Shakespeare.
Summary:
"What Shakespeare Stole From Rome analyses the multiple ways Shakespeare used material from Roman history and Latin Poetry in his plays and poems. Three important tragedies deal with the history of the Roman Republic: Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, and Antony and Cleopatra. From the tragedies of Seneca, Shakespeare took the theme of evil in the ruler, as in Richard III and Macbeth. The comedies of Plautus lie behind the early play The Comedy of Errors. From Ovid, Shakespeare took nearly all his Greek mythology, as in the miniature epic Venus and Adonis. Shakespeare, who knew Latin very well, introduced some 600 new Latin-based words into English." - Back Cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.