Episode 172:

The dating of the play

The early publication history of the play

The sources for the play

A synopsis of the play

A play that explores language and it’s limits

The opening scene

Constable Dull

The central ‘reveal’ scene and it’s poetry

The character and behaviour of Costard

The longest word in the Shakespeare cannon

The pageant of the nine worthies

The character of Jacquenetta

Shakespeare’s parody and homage to previous literary forms

The meaning of the title of the play

The concept of ‘the academy’ and comparisons with Elizabeth’s court

The critical reception of the play

The performance history of the play

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