Abiding in the Fields: Spenser, Milton, and the Pastoral Poetic Tradition (Previously Recorded Webinar)

Description

Shepherds and their flocks have a special place in the literary tradition as singers and poets, appearing not only in the Biblical world but also in the classical world. The Roman poet Vergil, best known for his epic The Aeneid, first tried his hand at a genre called “pastoral poetry” before he turned his attention to writing epic. In Vergil’s poetic world, shepherds pipe their tunes and hold singing contests in an idyllic world of eternal summer. One of Vergil’s “Eclogues” has been historically termed the “Messianic Eclogue” because of its eerie similarity to the Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah. This genre of poetry would capture the imagination of countless European poets, including Edmund Spenser, William Shakespeare, and John Milton.

This webinar will explore the world of shepherds as it appears in the Nativity narrative in the Gospels and classical poetry, and trace its influence on works such as Edmund Spenser’s Shepherd’s Calendar and William Shakespeare’s pastoral plays such as As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and A Winter’s Tale.

There is no required reading for this webinar, but Dr. Phillips will offer suggested further reading during the session.

Instructor: Dr. Anne Phillips

Runtime: This previously recorded webinar is 1 session, 132 minutes long; Lifetime access to recording will be available to students

Individual Price: $18 (Non-Refundable)

Family Price for 3 or more students: $50 (Non-Refundable)

How to access the class: After purchase, the recording of this webinar will be made available in the customer’s HHL account under “My Courses” with lifetime access.