A Course of Studies in English History

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Excerpt from A Course of Studies in English History: Illustrated by Legendary and Historical Plays of William Shakespeare The group of studies contained in this little brochure was originally prepared for the use of the Athena Society, of Berlin, Wisconsin, which began in 1890 the study of English history by periods in association with Shakespeare's historical plays, using also the legendary dramas which serve to indicate manners, customs, condition of the people or ethical principles. From time to time the outlines have been used by other clubs, and now, the supply being exhausted and numerous unsatisfied requests for them having been received, they are reprinted in this form with the hope that they may continue to be helpful to club-women engaged in the same line of research. Of the ten English historical plays of Shakespeare direct connection is preserved in eight and events of the intervals were supplied by means of connective historical lessons, other authors being also drawn upon. The general plan pursued, as will appear by examination of the scheme, was the following. Commencing with the period of Early Britain, points of interest concerning the first inhabitants were supplemented by astrological research and this epoch was accentuated by the tragedy of "King Lear." The era of Roman occupation followed, with a study of the romantic drama of "Cymbeline." The Saxon and Danish periods were illustrated by Tennyson's "Idylls of the King, " his drama of "Harold, " Bulwer's "Harold" and the tragedy of "Macbeth, " the latter being used because, although mainly of Scottish associations, it belongs to the British Cycle of Shakespearian plays. The Norman period was carefully reviewed as also that of the early Plantagenets during which Tennyson's drama of "Becket" was studied and the novels of Scott bearing upon the Crusades, Shakespeare's "King John" being the work of greatest interest considered this time. Miss Porter's "Scottish Chiefs" and Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" were also read. Begining with "Richard II." the plays of Shakespeare present an unbroken sequence for more than a century and include the dramas of "Henry IV., " "Henry V., " the trilogy of "Henry VI." and "Richard III., " forming an admirable basis for historical research. The first part of "Henry VI." was compared with Schiller's "Die Jungfrau von Orleans, " and, to illustrate the character of Warwick "the king-maker, " Bulwer's "Last of the Barons, " was read. The "Wars of the Roses" were emphasized by a rose day. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.