Shakespeare and the Christian Tradition

Eight essays by prominent Shakespeare scholars explore ways in which the Christian tradition intersects Shakespearean drama. Recognizing that post-modern methods of criticism pose new questions, the first essayist raises some of these knotty questions, urges that such questions not be ignored, and challenges scholars to explore thoughtfully their implications in the studying and teaching of Shakespeare. Subsequent contributors offer a wide range of responses. Some examine particular post-modern methods, scrutinize ways in which they may enlarge understanding, or in other instances, dim illumination of dramas, while others insist that a sense of history is essential in a scholarly examination of Shakespearean drama. Some clearly demonstrate how the Christian tradition may be studied and taught in the classroom.