13332 - English Literature (1) (A-L)

Learning outcomes

Course contents

The myth of Hamlet from the Middle Ages to Postmodernism.

The myth of Hamlet long precedes the celebrated version (or rather, the three versions) by William Shakespeare. It first appeared at the beginning the thirteenth century in the historical-legendary context  of  the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. It was then transmitted – like all myths – through a long series of  translations, adaptations and literary and oral re-tellings, before its arrival on the Elizabethan stage.  Even within early modern drama,  moreover, there was an earlier, pre-shakespearian version of the tragedy that has not survived. Thus Shakespeare receives  Hamlet and his story as a genuine mythos, part of a shared cultural patrimony, after a long process of transformation. What is more,  Hamlet has continued to generate mythoi – stories, plays, films, parodies, critical and philosophical discourse, even publicity – long after his Shakespearan apotheosis. This course intends to trace the cultural history of Hamlet from the Middle Ages to our own times, and will examine, in addition to Shakespeare's tragedy and its sources, contemporary works such as Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Carmelo Bene's Hommelette for Hamlet.

Readings/Bibliography

William Shakespeare, Hamlet, ed. Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor. London: Arden Shakespeare.

Manuale di Storia della Letteratura e Cultura Inglese, ed. Lilla Maria Crisafulli e Keir Elam. Bologna: Bononia Univerity Press.

Stephen Greenblatt, Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare. London: Cape.

Other course material will be made available in photocopy

Teaching methods

The course will be conducted in Italian. Reference will be made to Shakespeare's works both in the original language and in Italian translation. Use will be made of multimedia material to illustrate the Elizabethan theatre and Shakespeare's drama in performance

Assessment methods

Written exam at the end of the course for attending students. Oral exam, with extra reading matter, for non-attending students.

Office hours

See the website of Keir Douglas Elam