- To introduce students to historical representations of religious violence in the early modern period;
- To train critical reading skills by means of a number of literary texts;
- To practice historical interpretation, by placing these literary texts in their immediate historical and cultural contexts;
- To develop new research projects at RMA level (including formulating research questions; situating research in a relevant research context and using relevant scholarly literature)
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This course introduces the student to the phenomenon of religious violence during the early modern period, and to the various ways in which this impacted European culture and society. It begins by introducing the student to the ways in which the literature and culture of Shakespeare’s England experienced the situation and fashioned a response to the Reformation across Europe. In the process, the student is introduced to the international dimension of the problem, and becomes aware of research opportunities in a broader European context (England, France, the Netherlands).
I. As its point of departure, the course takes the St Bartholomew Massacre of 1572, and studies this violent encounter between the Catholic and Huguenot factions of France in an international context. Attention will be devoted to the drama of Shakespeare’s contemporary, Christopher Marlowe, with a special focus on 'The Massacre at Paris' (1592).
II. It continues to study the social unrest created by the Reformation, with special attention devoted to the refugee problem. It does so with reference to 'The Play of Sir Thomas More' (1595), of which Shakespeare was one of the authors.
III. The course also looks at the beneficial effects of the refugee problem. It does so by studying the impact in England of Huguenot refugee John Florio, who translated Michel de Montaigne's 'Essays' (1603) from French into English.
IV. Finally, the course looks at the image of Islam in the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. It does so by taking as its starting point the literary image of the Turk in Shakespeare’s 'Henry V' (1599).
Examples will be offered enabling students to explore each of these 4 themes in greater detail: Religion as a theme in the drama of Christoper Marlowe ('The Jew of Malta' and 'Doctor Faustus'). The St Bartholomew Massacre in Dutch drama, including Lambert van den Bosch’s 'Carel de negende anders Parysche Bruyloft' and Reyer Anslo’s 'De parysche bloed-bruiloff' (1649). Queen Elizabeth and the refugee problem. Montaigne’s religion. The Turk in European literature and culture of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
The course attempts to understand the early modern phenomenon of religion, violence and refugees in its contemporary contexts, but it also considers how our perception of these events may have been shaped by our own present day encounters with religious fanaticism, armed conflict and forced migration.
The entrance requirements for Exchange Students will be checked by the International Office and the Programme coordinator. Acceptance is not self-evident.
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