Proverbial Language in English Drama Exclusive of Shakespeare, 1495-1616

An Index
Proverbial Language in English Drama, Exclusive of Shakespeare (1495-1616): An Index serves as a comprehensive reference for scholars of Renaissance drama and the use of proverbial expressions in early modern English theater. Designed as a companion to the author's earlier Shakespeare’s Proverbial Language: An Index, this volume systematically catalogs and analyzes proverbial phrases found in extant English drama from the late 15th century through the early 17th century, excluding Shakespeare’s works. The index provides a meticulous breakdown of how proverbs were employed by dramatists across this period, offering insights into language, culture, and thematic structures in the plays.

Drawing from sources such as M. P. Tilley’s Dictionary of Proverbs, B. J. Whiting’s Modern Proverbial Sayings, and E. P. Wilson’s compilations, this volume refines and supplements existing proverb collections with a rigorous method of inclusion and exclusion. It identifies proverbs that were widely recognized in early modern England and distinguishes them from idiomatic expressions, topoi, or literal references that lack proverbial status. The author also critically assesses inconsistencies in previous scholarship, offering corrections and clarifications where necessary. This invaluable resource sheds light on the ways in which proverbial wisdom shaped Renaissance drama outside of Shakespeare, providing scholars with a deeper understanding of the linguistic and rhetorical traditions that influenced early modern English theater.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1984.

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