Shakespeare's French Connection How the History, Literature and Culture of France Permeate the Plays

Free Download Shakespeare's French Connection: How the History, Literature and Culture of France Permeate the Plays by Margrethe Jolly
English | July 25, 2024 | ISBN: 1476695385, 9781476652696 | True EPUB | 257 pages | 11.8 MB
Shakespeare most often locates his plays in Italy and England, and his third most frequent setting is France. Indeed, nearly 70 scenes at a conservative count, and perhaps as many as 100, take place in France in a variety of significant geographical locations. French is also the foreign language Shakespeare uses most; he is sufficiently au fait with French to use it for puns and scatological jokes. He weaves in comments on French fashion, ways of walking, and skills in horsemanship, sword-playing and dancing. Not only does Shakespeare draw directly or indirectly upon French chroniclers but he also presents us with parts of French history. Many French characters people his stage; sometimes historical figures appear as themselves, and sometimes they are alluded to. And the plays demonstrate Shakespeare's reading in French literature and how that influenced him.