shakespeare

2.  Romance is not a classification used during
Shakespeare’s time
 Instead, the plays were classified as
Tragedy, History, or Comedy
 But now we add a fourth category—romance
 Romances = Pericles, Cymbeline, Winter’s
Tale, and The Tempest

3.  Romances are sometimes called tragi-
comedies.
 They lack real deaths, but some characters
come close to it.
 Romances combine elements of both
genres.

5.  Tragedy
• Time leads inexorably to tragic conclusion
• Revenge is key element
 Romance
• Time is reversible
• Order is restored
• Forgiveness instead of revenge

6.  Comedy
• Happy weddings of individuals
• Joy abounds
 Romance
• Wedding of estates instead of individuals
• Joy is mixed with sorrow

7.  Middle age takes precedence over youth
(unlike comedies)
 Plays include more unrealistic, supernatural
elements