Letters as a Dramatic Device in English Renaissance Theatre

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25370283
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Literature in English
• Research Institution: Kyoto University of Education
• Principal Investigator: OTA Kojin 京都教育大学, 教育学部, 教授 (40168935)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 英国初期近代演劇 / 手紙 / シェイクスピア / 劇的手法 / early modern theatre / letter / paper / dramatic device

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This exhaustive research is on the dramatic use of letters in extent English plays written from the 10th century to the end of the 16th century, with an emphasis on early modern drama. The analysis was conducted on all the examples of the words “letter” and “paper” in English drama written during the period, based on Harbage’s “Annals of English Drama: 975-1700”.
It was not until “Fulgens and Lucrece”was written in 1497 that a letter as a missive communication was introduced into English drama. Letters were, however, seldom used in drama until the 1570s. In the 1580s, 73 examples are found, and in the 1590s the number jumped to 191 examples, when letters established themselves as a dramatic device: forged, misdelivered, or misread letters are used to create a crucial moment in dramatic action.

Free Research Field

英国初期近代演劇