English 392SC - Sci/Magic in Early Mod. Drama

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, belief in demons, fairies, apparitions, and other magical beings was still held by many in early modern England, including both the theaters' audiences and its critics. At the same time, sciences such as alchemy, palmistry, astrology, and dream interpretation borrowed from magical discourse to argue for their efficacy. This course examines the relationships among early modern literature, science, and magic by treating each as influential discursive practices that speak to and yet challenge each other. Our attention will be focused on the recent turn to scientific thought in literary analysis, with critical approaches from the history of the body, environmental and ecocriticism, animal studies, and history of science.

Prereq: ENGL-199.