Shakespeare and Reception Theory

This is an introduction to reception theory that demonstrates the relevance of response criticism when applied to Shakespeare’s plays and analyses of audience interaction.

Arden Shakespeare and Theory provides a comprehensive analysis of the theoretical developments that have dominated Shakespeare studies in recent years, as well as those that are emerging at the present moment. Each volume provides:

· a clear definition of a particular theory;
· a survey of its major theorists and critics;
· an analysis of its significance in Shakespeare studies;
· a summary of relevant political, social and economic contexts;
· a wealth of suggested resources for further investigation.

Reception Theory provides readers with a unique overview and understanding of the ways in which both audiences and readers have reacted to Shakespeare's works historically and in the present. This study demonstrates how recent emphases on a reader’s and a spectator's role in the creation of meaning might allow us to contemplate Shakespeare’s work in fresh and often provocative ways. Among the plays included as case studies are A Midsummer Night's Dream,Hamlet, The Tempest, King Lear and Henry V. Shakespeare and Reception Theory pays close attention to early modern modes of interaction in the playhouse alongside more recent assumptions that underlie spectating and performing.