The power that makes us handle ourselves and others around us is something we do not even notice, but that is central to all our lives. While actual physical violence is far away for many of us, nobody can deny how society has a certain rule over each of us. We have expectations towards others and ourselves that are central for the way we think and behave. Cultural values do not only shape our daily lives but also every text that is written. These texts on the other hand have the power to influence our values and believe on what is wrong and right.
Because I am very interested in this topic and also how texts form our picture of the world I chose to write about New Historicism.
New Historicism is a literary theory that, in my opinion, everybody can understand and relate to.
A central idea is how every text shows signs of the time and the society it is produced in. A logical consequence, since the author is never free of perceptions of his time and never subjective. On the other hand a text, read by many people, can easily influence their opinions and believes. For example the texts written about Queen Elisabeth contributed to her image of the Virgin Queen. These ideas, bought up as literary theory in New Historicism, are important until today. While books and theater plays might not be as important for many of us we are influenced, not only by television, but also by newspapers and articles we read. Our “self” is still created through the society we live in.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. New Historicism as Literary Theory
- 2.1. The Origin of New Historicism
- 2.2. Influential People in New Historicism
- 2.3. How New Historicism is applied
- 3. Summary of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest"
- 4. New Historicism applied on "The Tempest"
- 4.1. Shakespeare's Time of Textual Production
- 4.2. "The Tempest" and the Influence on its Time
- 4.3. Power Struggles in "The Tempest"
- 5. Conclusion
- 6. References
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to apply the literary theory of New Historicism to William Shakespeare's "The Tempest," exploring how the play reflects the socio-political context of its creation and, conversely, how the play influenced its time. The analysis will focus on the interplay between the text and its historical background, examining the power dynamics within the play and their relationship to broader societal structures.
- The relationship between literary texts and their historical context.
- The role of power structures in shaping literary works and societal perceptions.
- The influence of cultural values on individual beliefs and actions.
- The impact of literary texts on the formation of cultural values and beliefs.
- An analysis of power struggles as depicted in Shakespeare's "The Tempest".
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central theme of the paper: the application of New Historicism to Shakespeare's "The Tempest." It highlights the pervasive influence of societal structures and cultural values on both individual behavior and literary works. The author's interest in the interplay between text and context is emphasized, with "The Tempest" selected as a case study due to its rich depiction of power dynamics and its reflection of Elizabethan England's imperial power. The chapter outlines the structure of the paper, promising an exploration of New Historicism's origins, application, and a detailed analysis of "The Tempest" within this theoretical framework.
2. New Historicism as Literary Theory: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of New Historicism, explaining its origins, key figures, and application. It begins by defining culture and its evolving meaning, emphasizing the contributions of Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams in broadening the scope of cultural studies. The chapter traces the development of New Historicism in the United States, highlighting its emergence in the 1980s and its parallel development with Cultural Materialism in Britain. The chapter emphasizes the core questions driving New Historicism: how literary texts relate to their historical background and how notions of self, discourse, and power shape both the texts and the society that produced them.
3. Summary of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest": [This section would contain a summary of Shakespeare's *The Tempest*, but the provided text does not offer one. A summary would be needed here to fulfill the requirements.]
4. New Historicism applied on "The Tempest": This chapter undertakes a detailed application of New Historicism to Shakespeare's "The Tempest." It would examine specific aspects of the play in relation to the historical context of Elizabethan England, exploring how the play's themes and characters reflect the political and social realities of its time. The power dynamics within the play, such as the relationship between Prospero and Caliban, would be analyzed in the context of England's expanding empire and the colonial encounters of the era. Specific examples from the play would be used to support the analysis, illustrating how the play both reflects and shapes the cultural values and beliefs of its time.
Keywords
New Historicism, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Elizabethan Era, Power Dynamics, Cultural Values, Literary Theory, Colonialism, Imperialism, Socio-political Context.
Frequently Asked Questions: A New Historicist Approach to Shakespeare's *The Tempest*
What is the overall purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a paper applying the literary theory of New Historicism to Shakespeare's *The Tempest*. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The goal is to analyze how the play reflects and influences the socio-political context of Elizabethan England.
What is the main focus of the analysis?
The central focus is on exploring the interplay between Shakespeare's *The Tempest* and its historical context, specifically examining the power dynamics within the play and their relationship to broader societal structures of Elizabethan England, utilizing the lens of New Historicism.
What is New Historicism as a literary theory, and how is it applied in this paper?
New Historicism is a literary theory that examines literary texts within their historical and cultural contexts, considering how both the text and its historical background mutually shape each other. This paper applies New Historicism to *The Tempest* by analyzing the play's themes, characters, and plot in relation to the political, social, and cultural realities of Elizabethan England, paying particular attention to the power dynamics and the implications of colonialism and imperialism.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis of *The Tempest*?
Key themes include the relationship between literary texts and their historical context; the role of power structures in shaping literary works and societal perceptions; the influence of cultural values on individual beliefs and actions; the impact of literary texts on the formation of cultural values and beliefs; and an in-depth analysis of power struggles, as depicted in *The Tempest*, particularly through the lens of colonialism and imperialism.
What aspects of *The Tempest* are analyzed using New Historicism?
The analysis examines specific aspects of the play, such as the relationship between Prospero and Caliban, within the historical context of Elizabethan England's expanding empire and colonial encounters. The paper explores how these relationships and themes reflect the political and social realities of Shakespeare's time.
What is included in the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide an overview of each chapter's content. The introduction sets the stage, chapter two explains New Historicism, chapter three offers a summary of *The Tempest* (though the provided text lacks this summary), and chapter four details the application of New Historicism to *The Tempest*. The document also includes a conclusion and references.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: New Historicism, William Shakespeare, *The Tempest*, Elizabethan Era, Power Dynamics, Cultural Values, Literary Theory, Colonialism, Imperialism, Socio-political Context.
- Quote paper
- Sina Lockley (Author), 2014, New Historicism applied on William Shakespeare’s"The Tempest", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/285111
