Routledge - Shakespeare and the Versification of English Drama

Explore the evolution of Renaissance dramatic poetry with this comprehensive study from Routledge. Shakespeare and the Versification of English Drama, 1561-1642, provides a natural history of iambic pentameter in English. Rather than looking at Shakespeare in isolation, this book places him within the broader context of his predecessors, contemporaries, and followers to provide a complete understanding of his work. This research surveys the development and varieties of blank verse across English playhouses during the Elizabethan, Jacobean, and Caroline eras. By analyzing the poetic structures used by various playwrights, the text offers a deep look at how dramatic verse changed over time. From the early works of Norton and Sackville's Gorboduc to later developments, this book serves as an essential resource for anyone studying the history of English playwriting and the technical mastery of Renaissance verse.