Renaissance and Jacobean Drama

What this unit covers

The page is built around a handful of plays. Doctor Faustus has context maps, theme maps, quote decks and a quiz. The Duchess of Malfi has the widest spread, with character decks for Bosola, Ferdinand, Antonio and Julia, plus critics and thematic quotes. The White Devil, Volpone and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore are also covered, along with some Elizabethan theatre background.

Where to start

Begin with context. The Duchess of Malfi Context mind map sets out the real Giovanna d'Aragona, whose father's death left her under her brothers' authority. Doctor Faustus Context looks at the corruption of the church in the 16th century. Then move to character maps such as Flamineo in The White Devil, which shows how he builds a relationship with the audience through asides and soliloquies.

Quotes and critics

• Use the Bosola Top quotes deck and The Duchess of Malfi Thematic Quotes for close reading.
• Try the Duchess of malfi quotes mind map, which groups lines under family, power, morality and suffering.
• Read Critical Perspectives on 'The Duchess of Malfi' for the views of Lever, White and Henderson, and the cultural materialist reading.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then test yourself. Quizzes such as White Devil Quotes, Lust Quotes, Hell and Duchess of Malfi Key Quotes show which lines you can place and which you cannot. Go back to the matching map or deck for those gaps, then retake the quiz.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the Drama strand of Literature. Most of the material suits school students at A-level, and teachers can use the maps and slide sets as ready-made starting points. Choose one play, work through its map, deck and quiz, and see what you want to add yourself.