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Corneille ‘Le Cid’

Corneille ‘Le Cid’. by W.D. Howarth. Introduction. Theatrical season: 1636-37 The first major example of a French classical tragedy. Published in 1637 as a ‘tragicomédie.’ Corneille vs. Critics Created in conditions of vigorous competition. Classification change in 1648

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Corneille ‘Le Cid’

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  1. Corneille ‘Le Cid’ by W.D. Howarth

  2. Introduction • Theatrical season: 1636-37 • The first major example of a French classical tragedy. • Published in 1637 as a ‘tragicomédie.’ • Corneille vs. Critics • Created in conditions of vigorous competition. • Classification change in 1648 • The more generally available version.

  3. ‘le milieu’ and ‘le moment’ • Parlement de Paris (1548) • Publication of Du Bellay’s Défense et illustration de la langue française • Result: French classical tragedy • Five acts • Alexandrin couplets

  4. Historical Context Cont. • Richelieu • AcadémieFrançaise • Compagnie des cinq auteurs

  5. Corneille as a Playwright • 8 pieces prior to ‘Le Cid’ • Clitandre: vintage baroque tragicomedy • 5 comedies: experimentation with place and time • Médée: regular tragedy • L’Illusioncomique: “Masterpiece of baroque theatricality.”

  6. Theatrical Qualities • Hinge between multiple set (décor simultané) and single perspective set. • Single perspective allows for unity of place. • Hôtel de Bourgogne • Le théâtre du Marais • Written for a compartmented stage. • Lack of textual direction. • Demise of multiple set.

  7. Distinguishing Tragicomedy from Tragedy • 5 distinctions • Drama libre: structure that dramatizes without sense of unity, only interest. • Events treated as serious, secular, non-historic, and Romanesque. • Denouement is happy. • Leading characters are aristocratic. • Addition of comic passages, but not required.

  8. Querelle du Cid • Argument over norm of dramatic practice. • Did not respect ‘unity of time’ • 24 hour time frame • One setting • Plot with a single conflict • Scudéry: Observations sur le cid (1637) • Horace (1640)

  9. Works Cited Howarth, W.D. Corneille: Le Cid. London: Grant and Cutler LTD, 1988. Print.

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