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Literature/Drama: The Tragedy of The Dutchesse of Malfy – Tragic Traditions & Italian Tales With Dr Will Rossiter From University of East Anglia
16th November 2023 @ 16:15 - 17:15
Dr Will Rossiter, Associate Professor from the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at University of East Anglia, presents The Tragedy of the Dutchesse of Malfy: Tragic Traditions and Italian Tales.
In this session we will examine how Webster developed his play according to different models of tragedy — classical and medieval — and the moral codes of each. In particular we will discuss how Webster took these models, traditions and conventions of tragedy from his immediate source for the play in William Painter’s translation of Matteo Bandello’s original tale, and what he added to his source in order to dramatize the story. Our core question, then, is to what extent is the play Webster’s own, and how does he make it his own? Beyond this, are there there different moral codes in tragedy for men and women?
In preparation for, and to work through during, the session, Will has provided a series of excerpts from Webster’s sources along with guidance notes here: Duchess of Malfi Handout with rubric (Nov 2023)
The main body of the interactive session will be complete by 17:00 but we have included an additional 15 minutes for those that want to stay on to discuss the ideas with Will and to ask further questions.
Speaker Profile: Dr Will Rossiter
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. This means that sessions will continue irrespective of possible school closures.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides and other resources will be shared after the event, where available.
Suitable for: Year 12 & 13 students (and equivalent) studying, or with a more general interest in, The Duchess of Malfi. In addition, students with a possible interest in a degree in Literature/Drama and related disciplines will gain an understanding of how plays are discussed in tutorials. Student groups, and individual students and teachers are very welcome to join us.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: In preparation for, and to work through during, the session, Will has provided a series of excerpts from Webster’s sources along with guidance notes here: Duchess of Malfi Handout with rubric (Nov 2023). Students may also wish to familiarise themselves with The Duchess of Malfi more generally.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Bluejeans (similar to Zoom) and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the university via a microphone and/or typed comments and questions. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: