The aim of this page is to make fragments of the play available as edited text (left panel) equipped with specifically designed activity kits (right panel). Several editions in print and electronic have been used in constructing this resource.

The Key Fragments have been selected in order to bring key characters and ideas from The Spanish Tragedy to the fore. The main types of annotation are 'Character', 'Paraphrase', 'Deity/Mythical location' and 'Instruction'. All the annotations have been designed to be as accurate as possible; however, particularly with the 'instruction' annotations, there will be opportunity for some lively debate. The whole idea of creating these electronic resources is that they are simultaneously accessible and open to modification.

The activity kits have been designed to assist the process of reading the fragment performatively. They include: a set of instructions for how to use the page; a slideshow of interpretive steps into the fragment and beyond it, into character and dramatic techniques, and topics for futher study; an image gallery of photographs of the respective scene in different stage productions; a podcast for audio recording(s) facility; a discussion forum; and a print facility.

Four fragments have been chosen for close examination: Hieronimo's speech - III.12:1-24; the Ghost of Andrea's speech - I.1:1-91; Pedringano's trial and hanging - III.6:40-108; and the 'Babel scene' - IV.4:11-216. 

 

NB. As with every resource on this website, this is not a finished or final piece of work but research in progress. The key fragments - from choice to activities - are open to discussion, analysis, commentary, suggestions and corrections. Please use the discussion forum and the feedback form.

 

 

For information on editions of The Spanish Tragedy search

Bibliography