Dryden's Adaptation of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

In the course of the last four centuries many authors have made good use of Shakespeare′s wealth of ideas and his unique style of elaborate and figurative writing, be it in the form of adopting Shakespearean thoughts in order to create new literary works or by adapting one or several of Shakespeare's plays and thus making the him accessible to a particular contemporary audience. The latter applies to John Dryden who tried to reinvent The Tempest for the Restoration public at large.

This term paper is intended to examine in how far Dryden managed to contribute his own ideas to this adaptation without neglecting the basic framework of Shakespeare′s Tempest. First, Kraus concentrates on the Restoration period itself and the repercussions on drama and theatrical performances that the re-establishment of the monarchy involved. On second thoughts, he draws attention to Dryden′s adaptation of the Tempest, in particular by means of analyzing and elucidating to what extent it differs from the original with regard to plot, staging possibilities and language.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introductory remarks – adaptations of Shakespeare's plays
• Shakespeare in the Restoration period
  • Restoration drama
  • Restoration theatres and performances
• Dryden's adaptation of The Tempest
  • The Tempest, or the Enchanted Island
  • What is different in the "new" Tempest?
    • Major changes with regard to plot and characters
    • Themes differing from the original
    • English opera – an example of a different staging by means of new theatrical facilities
    • Dryden's language and style
• Dryden as the better Shakespeare? - an attempt at a conclusion.

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This term paper aims to examine John Dryden's adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest, focusing on the extent to which Dryden contributed his own ideas while maintaining the basic framework of Shakespeare's original play. It will explore the Restoration period, the impact on drama and theatrical performances, and analyze Dryden's adaptation in terms of plot, staging, and language, highlighting key differences from the original.

• Shakespeare's legacy and its reinvention in the Restoration period
• The emergence of "comedy of manners" and its influence on Restoration drama
• The development of Restoration theatre and its impact on staging and performance
• Dryden's adaptation of The Tempest and its significant alterations from the original
• The role of language and style in Dryden's adaptation

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introductory remarks – adaptations of Shakespeare's plays This chapter provides an introduction to the topic of Shakespearean adaptations, highlighting the prevalence of using Shakespeare's ideas and style in creating new works. The focus then shifts to John Dryden's adaptation of The Tempest, setting the stage for the subsequent analysis.
• Shakespeare in the Restoration period This section discusses the Restoration period's impact on English drama and theatre. It explores the context of the re-establishment of the monarchy, the subsequent resurrection of Shakespeare, and the development of "comedy of manners." It also delves into the influence of French drama and the changes in theatrical performances during this period.
• Restoration drama The chapter explores the emergence of Restoration drama, characterized by its focus on immorality, loose-living, and the reflection of upper-class society's manners. The influence of French drama and the shift towards a more sophisticated style are also discussed.
• Restoration theatres and performances This section delves into the evolution of Restoration theatres, outlining the transition from partially covered Elizabethan playhouses to fully-roofed, custom-built edifices. It highlights the introduction of scenery, theatrical machines, and the emergence of professional actresses, marking a shift towards more realistic and elaborate performances.
• Dryden's adaptation of The Tempest This chapter introduces Dryden's adaptation of The Tempest, titled "The Tempest, or the Enchanted Island," and sets the stage for a detailed examination of the changes made in the adaptation.
• What is different in the "new" Tempest? This chapter delves into the key differences between Dryden's adaptation and Shakespeare's original, examining the major changes made to the plot and characters, the thematic variations, the impact of new theatrical facilities, and the differences in Dryden's language and style.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This term paper focuses on John Dryden, Shakespeare, The Tempest, Restoration drama, "comedy of manners," Restoration theatre, theatrical adaptation, plot, characters, themes, staging, language, style, English opera.

Details

• College: University of Siegen
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Stefan Kraus (Author)
• Publication Year: 2006
• Pages: 15
• Catalog Number: V68828
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638611602
• ISBN (Book): 9783638768566
• Language: English
• Tags: Dryden Adaptation Shakespeare Tempest