Rome and rhetoric : Shakespeare's Julius Caesar / Garry Wills.

Author/creator Wills, Garry, 1934-
Format Book
Publication InfoNew Haven, CT : Yale University Press, ©2011.
Description186 pages ; 21 cm.
Subjects
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Julius Caesar.
Caesar, Julius--In literature.
Rhetoric, Renaissance.
Rome--In literature.

SeriesThe Anthony Hecht lectures in the humanities
Anthony Hecht lectures in the humanities. ^A1063164
Contents Caesar: mighty yet -- Brutus: rhetoric verbal and visual -- Antony: the fox knows many things -- Cassius: parallel lives.
Abstract Renaissance plays and poetry in England were saturated with the formal rhetorical twists that Latin education made familiar to audiences and readers. Yet a formally educated man like Ben Jonson was unable to make these ornaments come to life in his two classical Roman plays. Garry Wills, focusing his attention on Julius Caesar, here demonstrates how Shakespeare so wonderfully made these ancient devices vivid, giving his characters their own personal styles of Roman speech. Shakespeare also makes Rome present and animate by casting his troupe of experienced players to make their strengths shine through the historical facts that Plutarch supplied him with. The result is that the Rome English-speaking people carry about in their minds is the Rome that Shakespeare created for them. And that is even true, Wills affirms, for today's classical scholars with access to the original Roman sources.--From publisher description.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references and index.
LCCN 2011017965
ISBN9780300152180 (cloth : alk. paper)
ISBN0300152183 (cloth : alk. paper)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Joyner General Stacks PR2808 .W58 2011 ✔ Available Place Hold