James wrote The Kingis Quair in a rhyme scheme ababbcc which became know as rhyme royal even though he was not the first to use it. He wrote, "I recommend my buk in lynis sevin" but he most likely learned this scheme from Chaucer or the French.
With so much of the contemporary poetry written in free verse, does the use of traditional rhyme schemes seem more restrictive or is there just a lack of discipline in the creative skills of modern poets?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Joan Beaufort
King James' imprisonment must not have been too confining since he met Joan Beaufort while in prison. He married her in 1423 a few year's after his release and they had eight children.
Dream Literature
Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy and his use of a dream vision or dream allegory greatly influenced medieval literature. King James I used this format for his Kingis Quair. However, the love relationship in the work was focused on a personal marital relationship, quite different than the idealized love found in most other works due to such poets as Guillaume de Lorris. His work also was predominantly autobiographical not only because of his descriptions of his relationship with his wife, but also his imprisonment by the English.
Cawdor
One step back for a moment, if you please. For those who like that Scottish play and things Scottish, read Liza Campbell's A Charmed Life: Growing up in Macbeth's Castle. It is a very interesting read and rife with history (recent and ancient).
Friday, February 13, 2009
Kingis Quair
Our next book of influence will be King James I's Kingis Quair. Leaders throughout history have been concerned with assassination in one form or the other. In 1423, poison was the weapon of choice. The unicorn seems to be a useful substitute for a body guard since he refers to "The lufare vnicorne, That voidis venum with his euoure horne." (The friendly unicorn that renders venom harmless with his ivory horn). This fabulous beast can be seen in the Unicorn Hunt tapestries in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
Unicorns are referenced in many ancient texts by authors of reliable reputation. Did they really exist or are they only from the world of mythology and fantasy?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Superstition
Before closing the posts on Macbeth, I would like to cite a couple sources that give a reason for the theatrical superstitions on the Scottish Play, here is the second:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrical_superstitions
Shakespeare's play Macbeth is said to be cursed, so actors avoid saying its name (the euphemism "The Scottish Play" is used instead). Actors also avoid even quoting the lines from Macbeth inside a theatre, particularly the Witches incantations. Outside of a theatre the play can be spoken of openly. If an actor speaks the name Macbeth in a theatre, he is required to leave the theatre building, spin around three times, spit, curse, and then knock to be allowed back in. There are several possible origins for this superstition. One is the assumption that the song of the Weird Sisters is an actual spell that will bring about evil spirits. Another is that there is more swordplay in it than most other Shakespeare plays, and the more swordplay must be rehearsed and performed, the more chances there are for someone to get injured. Yet another option is that the play is often run by theatres that are in debt and looking to increase patronage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrical_superstitions
Shakespeare's play Macbeth is said to be cursed, so actors avoid saying its name (the euphemism "The Scottish Play" is used instead). Actors also avoid even quoting the lines from Macbeth inside a theatre, particularly the Witches incantations. Outside of a theatre the play can be spoken of openly. If an actor speaks the name Macbeth in a theatre, he is required to leave the theatre building, spin around three times, spit, curse, and then knock to be allowed back in. There are several possible origins for this superstition. One is the assumption that the song of the Weird Sisters is an actual spell that will bring about evil spirits. Another is that there is more swordplay in it than most other Shakespeare plays, and the more swordplay must be rehearsed and performed, the more chances there are for someone to get injured. Yet another option is that the play is often run by theatres that are in debt and looking to increase patronage.
Macbeth's financial boost
Before closing the posts on Macbeth, I would like to cite a couple sources that give a reason for the theatrical superstitions on the Scottish Play, here is the first:
http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/Defymcbeth/Super2.html
The superstition actually began in the old days of stock companies, which would struggle at all times to remain in business. Frequently, near the end of a season a stock company would realize that it was not going to break even and, in an attempt to boost ticket sales and attendance, would announce production of a crowd favorite . . . MacBeth.
If times were particularly bad, even 'the bard's play' would not be enough to save the company, therefore, MacBeth often presaged the end of a company's season, and would frequently be a portent of the company's demise.Therefore, the fear of MacBeth was generally the fear of bad business and of an entire company being put out of work.
http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/Defymcbeth/Super2.html
The superstition actually began in the old days of stock companies, which would struggle at all times to remain in business. Frequently, near the end of a season a stock company would realize that it was not going to break even and, in an attempt to boost ticket sales and attendance, would announce production of a crowd favorite . . . MacBeth.
If times were particularly bad, even 'the bard's play' would not be enough to save the company, therefore, MacBeth often presaged the end of a company's season, and would frequently be a portent of the company's demise.Therefore, the fear of MacBeth was generally the fear of bad business and of an entire company being put out of work.
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