EXAM - English literature 2
Shakespeare. His plays had never ceased to be played, and were establishing a nascent canon of national
dramatic classics. Supreme artistic hero, aslo a chameleon – plays cheerfully altered and rewritten as
dramatic taste and political scene changed (to coincide views of who was in power). Could be conformed
to every shift in taste and fashion. In 1740s and 50s rewritten to be monuments to patriotism, celebrating
both trade and national glory. He became icon of middle class merchantism. The virtues he was seen to
extol (ülistas) were those considered the essence of any true-born Englishman. Campaign to commemorate
him in Westminster Abbey.
28. The Augustan attempts of canon formation
Putting together literary heritage. The Temple of British Worthies: Shakespeare, Milton, Pope, Chaucer,
Spenser. Abandoning long held classical criteria of judgement, replaced with criteria judging the works of
their own merits
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