The Sons of Ben

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. CONTENTS vii
3. Acknowledgements xi
4. Induction xiii
5. Chapter 1: BEN JONSON AND HIS SOURCES
6. Classical literary sources (Decorum, the comedies of Plautus and Terence, the Ridiculous) 1
7. Medieval Sources: Mystery, Morality and Interlude 17
8. The Great Chain and Man as Microcosm 20
9. Ancient medical theory and Renaissance psychology 27
10. The character sketch 38
11. Early Humour plays (George Chapman, Henry Porter) 45
12. Chapter 2: HUMOROUS CHARACTERIZATION IN THE COMEDIES OF BEN JONSON
13. In humour 55
14. Out of humour 67
15. Volpone, Epicoene, The Alchemist, Bartholomew Fair 84
16. Chapter 3: THE INFLUENCE OF JONSON ON SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTHCENTURY COMEDY
17. Richard Brome 92
18. James Shirley 95
19. Thomas Shadwell 99
20. Colley Cibber 106
21. The Sons of Ben 109
22. Margareth Cavendish 110
23. Aphra Behn 111
24. James Miller 111
25. Oliver Goldsmith 113
26. Richard Brinsley Sheridan 116
27. Chapter 4: THE INTRUSION OF HUMOROUS CHARACTERIZATION INTO THE ENGLISH NOVEL
28. Henry Fielding 118
29. Tobias Smollett 123
30. Chapter 5: THE MEANING OF THE COMIC 125
31. Chapter 6: NOMADIC HUMOURS
32. Introduction 137
33. Where did the humours go 146
34. Berlin 1900 149
35. Fabulous 156
36. Hilarious 160
37. An ever-closer union 165
38. Identity mix-up 167
39. Chameleon 168
40. An exchange of notes 170
41. Visiting card 172
42. Holy See 174
43. Sisyphean diplomatic challenge 175
44. Laughter above 177
45. The laughing philosopher 180
46. Chapter 7: UNCONSCIOUS REVELATION 184
47. Postscript 195
48. Index 197