1. Introduction:
... This is the basic plot of the legend of King Lear. Geoffrey of Monmouth, a magister and later bishop of Saint Asaph, used it for his Historia Regum Britanniae, also known as The History of the Kings of Britain, a work which pretends to be a history of the British rulers. It was written between 1135 and 1138 and served William Shakespeare as a source for his tragedy called King Lear, which was written between 1603 and 1606.
It is no big secret that legends, plays and even traditions sometimes undergo massive changes in the course of time. By comparing the modern celebration of Halloween or St. Nicholas´ Day to their original meaning, we are able to detect various differences. These changes could be seen as a kind of defamiliarization of their ancient message. Can they simply be seen as a try to change old and established elements into modern and popular objects that are suitable for the longing and the desire of the mass? By having a closer look at today´s commercial character of Halloween and Christmas, one would tend to agree. On the other side, it seems to be quite logical that different periods with different social and political circumstances can cause different interpretations and expectations of a piece of literature or an event.
Although Shakespeare´s and Geoffrey´s works are dealing with the same background legend, their message and their intentions seem to be quite different. As it was Shakespeare who adapted the Lear story and provided it with several changes, the question arises why he did so. Did he make these changes for commercial reasons? Did he try to integrate the legend into a contemporary context in order to influence the masses to attend his play? Was he politically dependent and in some way forced to do it? Are contemporary values and ideas of his era the key to explain the changes? The aim of this paper is to find out, or at least to approach Shakespeare´s and also Geoffrey´s intentions for providing their own versions of the story of King Lear with special characteristics.
In order to be able to compare the different works, it seems to be necessary to provide some background information about both in the following...
2. Geoffrey of Monmouth´s "Historia Regum Britanniae"
3. William Shakespeare´s "King Lear"
4. Possible reasons for the different endings
4.1 Specific patterns
4.2 Religious influences
4.3 Different genres
4.4 Political influences and dependencies
5. Conclusion
6. Works cited
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae
- 3. William Shakespeare's King Lear
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the differing portrayals of the King Lear story in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae and William Shakespeare's King Lear, investigating the reasons behind the variations. It seeks to understand the intentions of both authors in shaping their respective versions of the legend.
- Comparison of Geoffrey of Monmouth's and Shakespeare's versions of the King Lear story.
- Analysis of the motivations behind Shakespeare's adaptations of the original legend.
- Exploration of the historical and social contexts influencing both works.
- Examination of the literary styles and narrative techniques employed by each author.
- Assessment of the lasting impact and significance of both works.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by outlining the basic plot of the King Lear legend, highlighting the key events of Lear's division of his kingdom and his subsequent downfall due to his daughters' treachery. It establishes the central question of the paper: why Shakespeare chose to adapt the story from Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae and what factors influenced those changes. The chapter highlights the potential impact of social and political factors on literary interpretations across different eras, setting the context for the comparative analysis to follow.
2. Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae: This chapter provides background information on Geoffrey of Monmouth, the author of the Historia Regum Britanniae, discussing his life, his potential sources (or lack thereof), and the historical context of his work. It analyzes the Historia as a pseudo-history, acknowledging its lack of historical accuracy while emphasizing its literary and imaginative power. The chapter specifically explores the political dimensions of Geoffrey's work, suggesting a possible glorification of Anglo-Norman society, and highlights the Historia's significance as a valuable piece of medieval literature and its role in introducing the King Lear legend and the legend of King Arthur to a wider audience. The chapter also analyzes the unique characteristics of Geoffrey's version of the King Lear story, contrasting its style with other sections of the Historia and emphasizing its emotional depth.
3. William Shakespeare's King Lear: This chapter (although incomplete in the provided text) begins to explore Shakespeare's adaptation of the King Lear story. While a full summary is impossible without the complete text of this section, the provided fragment establishes the play's continued acclaim as a literary masterpiece and introduces the central question of analyzing its relationship with Geoffrey of Monmouth's work, setting the groundwork for a comparison of both versions of the story.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
King Lear, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Regum Britanniae, William Shakespeare, adaptation, legend, historical context, literary analysis, medieval literature, Anglo-Norman period, narrative techniques, political influence, social context.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of King Lear in Geoffrey of Monmouth and William Shakespeare
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper compares and contrasts the portrayal of the King Lear story in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae and William Shakespeare's King Lear. It investigates the reasons for the variations between the two versions and analyzes the intentions of both authors in shaping their respective narratives.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including a comparison of both versions of the King Lear story, an analysis of Shakespeare's adaptations, the historical and social contexts influencing both works, the literary styles and narrative techniques employed by each author, and an assessment of the lasting impact of both works.
What does the paper include?
The paper provides a comprehensive preview including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It offers background information on Geoffrey of Monmouth and his Historia Regum Britanniae, placing the work within its historical and literary context. It also begins an analysis of Shakespeare's King Lear and its relationship to Monmouth's work.
What is covered in the Introduction chapter?
The introduction outlines the basic plot of the King Lear legend, highlighting key events. It establishes the central question of why Shakespeare adapted the story and what factors influenced those changes. It also highlights the potential impact of social and political factors on literary interpretations across different eras.
What is discussed in the chapter on Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae?
This chapter provides biographical information on Geoffrey of Monmouth and discusses the historical context of his Historia Regum Britanniae. It analyzes the work as a pseudo-history, acknowledging its lack of historical accuracy while emphasizing its literary and imaginative power. The chapter explores the political dimensions of Geoffrey's work and its significance as a piece of medieval literature, focusing particularly on its version of the King Lear story.
What does the chapter on Shakespeare's King Lear cover?
This chapter (although incomplete in the provided text) begins to explore Shakespeare's adaptation of the King Lear story. It establishes the play's continued acclaim and introduces the central question of analyzing its relationship with Geoffrey of Monmouth's work, setting the groundwork for a comparison of both versions.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
The keywords include King Lear, Geoffrey of Monmouth, Historia Regum Britanniae, William Shakespeare, adaptation, legend, historical context, literary analysis, medieval literature, Anglo-Norman period, narrative techniques, political influence, and social context.
What is the overall aim of this academic study?
The overall aim is to provide a detailed comparative analysis of the King Lear story as presented by Geoffrey of Monmouth and William Shakespeare, examining the textual evolution, authorial intentions, and socio-historical influences on the narrative across different eras.
- Quote paper
- Julian Binder (Author), 2011, Approaching possible reasons for the different endings in Geoffrey of Monmouth´s “Historia Regum Britanniae” and William Shakespeare´s “King Lear”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/189685
