Language and Politics in the Sixteenth-Century History Play

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Introduction

   • Dermot Cavanagh

   Pages 1-15

3. The Paradox of Sedition in John Bale’s King Johan

   • Dermot Cavanagh

   Pages 16-35

4. The Language of Counsel in Gorboduc

   • Dermot Cavanagh

   Pages 36-57

5. Language, Temperance and the Nation in Robert Greene’s The Scottish History of James the Fourth

   • Dermot Cavanagh

   Pages 58-79

6. Misreading History: Rumour in King John

   • Dermot Cavanagh

   Pages 80-102

7. The Language of Treason in Richard II

   • Dermot Cavanagh

   Pages 103-126

8. Henry V and the Reformation of the Word

   • Dermot Cavanagh

   Pages 127-151

9. Back Matter

   Pages 152-197

   PDF

Language and Politics in the Sixteenth-Century History Play examines a key preoccupation of historical drama in the period 1538-1600: the threat presented by uncivil language. 'Unlicensed' speech informs the presentation of political debate in Tudor history plays and it is also the subject of their most daring political speculations. By analyzing plays by John Bale, Thomas Norton, Thomas Sackville, and Robert Greene, as well as Shakespeare, this study also argues for a more inclusive approach to the genre.

• argue
• bibliography
• drama
• edition
• genre
• history
• knowledge
• language
• nation
• play
• politics
• reform
• reformation
• subject
• William James

• University of Northumbria, UK

  Dermot Cavanagh

DERMOT CAVANAGH is Lecturer in English at the University of Northumbria.

Policies and ethics