A death and a marriage: an examination of the literature occasioned by the death of Henry Prince of Wales and the marriage of his sister Princess Elizabeth, 1612-13

[摘要] This dissertation examines the occasional literature - elegies, sermons, marriage poems, Basques, and pamphlets - composed on the death of Henry Prince of Wales in November 1612, and the marriage of his sister, Princess Elizabeth, to Frederick V Elector Palatine, in the following February. An attempt has beon made to note the themes, conventions and images commonly used in the literature, and the way in which individual writers and poets handle them has been discussed. In addition the relationship between the personalities of the Prince and Princess, in so far as they can be ascertained, and the view of them presented to the reader by the literature has been explored. The far reaching political and religious implications of the events, dwelt on at considerable length by a number of writers and poets, have also been discussed in so far as they are reflected in the prose and verse written for the occasions. The relevant social background of the contributors to the bodies of literature, together with that of their patrons and dedicatees has also been explored in an attempt to discover the relationship of writers and patrons to the events, and so offer a partial explanation for the remarkable outpouring of commemorative volumes. Finally the imaginative literature of the years 1612-15 has been examined In order to trace the influence of the events in a wider field.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of English, Drama and American & Canadian Studies, The Shakespeare Institute

[关键词] P Language and Literature;PR English literature