Brandimer: Difference between revisions

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== Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues ==
== Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues ==
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Neither [[WorksCited|Malone]], [[WorksCited|Collier]], nor [[WorksCited|Fleay, ''BCED'']] ventures a guess as to the story line of "Brandimer."
Neither [[WorksCited|Malone]], [[WorksCited|Collier]], nor [[WorksCited|Fleay, ''BCED'']] ventured a guess as to the story line of "Brandimer."
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[[WorksCited|Greg II (#19, p. 155)]] called attention to the similarity in name with Brandimart, who appears in Robert Greene's ''Orlando Furioso'', which Strange's men had given one performance the previous February (21st). Greg did not think this character was lifted out of the Greene play and given the star role here, but he did consider that as "King of the Iles" Brandimer might have headlined a play with a strong English theme.
[[WorksCited|Greg II (#19, p. 155)]] called attention to the similarity in name with Brandimart, who appears in Robert Greene's ''Orlando Furioso'', which Strange's men had given one performance the previous February (21st). Greg did not think this character was lifted out of the Greene play and given the star role here, but he did consider that as "King of the Iles" Brandimer might have headlined a play with a strong English theme.
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[[WorksCited|Wiggins, ''Catalogue'' #897]], although not convinced by Greg's line of thought, points out a story line for King Brandimart in Ariosto's ''Orlando Furioso'', focusing on his early life. As an alternative, he offers a giant named Brandimore, who is killed by Guy of Warwick.   
[[WorksCited|Wiggins, ''Catalogue'' #897]], although not convinced by Greg's line of thought, points out a story line for King Brandimart in Ariosto's ''Orlando Furioso'', focusing on his early life. As an alternative to Greg's thinking, Wiggins offers a giant named Brandimore, who is killed by Guy of Warwick.   
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Revision as of 13:03, 3 June 2021

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Historical Records


Performance Records

Playlists in Philip Henslowe's diary


Two records of performance survive in Henslowe’s accounts for early 1592:

Fol. 7 (Greg I, 13)
Rd at brandymer the 6 of aprell 1591 ................................ xxijs


Fol. 7 v (Greg I, 14)
Rd at brandimer the 8 of maye 1592 .................................... xxiiijs



Theatrical Provenance


"Brandimer" was one of nineteen plays scheduled by Lord Strange's men at the Rose playhouse that apparently were not new in the late winter and spring of 1592.

Probable Genre(s)


Romantic comedy (?) Harbage

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues


Neither Malone, Collier, nor Fleay, BCED ventured a guess as to the story line of "Brandimer."

Greg II (#19, p. 155) called attention to the similarity in name with Brandimart, who appears in Robert Greene's Orlando Furioso, which Strange's men had given one performance the previous February (21st). Greg did not think this character was lifted out of the Greene play and given the star role here, but he did consider that as "King of the Iles" Brandimer might have headlined a play with a strong English theme.

Wiggins, Catalogue #897, although not convinced by Greg's line of thought, points out a story line for King Brandimart in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, focusing on his early life. As an alternative to Greg's thinking, Wiggins offers a giant named Brandimore, who is killed by Guy of Warwick.

References to the Play


Information welcome.

Critical Commentary


Any commentary is dependent upon an identification of the title character; see Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues , above.

For What It's Worth


Wiggins, Catalogue #897 boosts the likelihood that the title character of "Brandimer" is the dragon by making an argument about theatricality across the repertories staged at the Rose and Fortune: he notes that the Jacobean ballad, which features the dragon (Brandimore), also mentions characters in other plays including "Sir John Mandeville" (Strange's), "Abraham and Lot" (Sussex's), and Tamburlaine (Admiral's).

Works Cited



Site created and maintained by Roslyn L. Knutson, Professor Emerita, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; updated 10 July 2020.