Annotated Bibliography
Burton, Robert. The Anatomy of Melancholy. NY: Tudor Publishing Company, 1927. Print.
This is a philosophical / medical text written by a pastor who believed he was an authority on the humors of the body since he dealt with physically and spiritually sick individuals on a daily basis. He firmly believed that the sickness of the body was intertwined with the sickness of the mind and soul. Hence, the book is divided into three sections. The second portion, which is what is cited for the majority of this project, provides some interesting views on disease inside the body and how sleep may act as a medicinal aid to cure people suffering from melancholic ailments and head humors. While there is surprisingly little information within the composition as a whole, Burton does offer modern day readers an in depth look at developing theory surrounding sleep during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Camden, Carroll. "Shakespeare on Sleep and Dreams." The Rice Institute Pamphlet 23.2 (1936): 106-133. Web. 20 April 2013.
This author explores the many uses for the word "sleep" in Shakespeare's works. There is also a smaller section dedicated to dreams and nightmares.
Cogan, Thomas. The Haven of Health: Chiefly Made for the Comfort of Students, and Consequently for All Those That Have a Care of Their Health. London, 1636. EEBO. Web. 18 April 2013.
Cogan was a practicing physician during the late 1500's and wrote this book based on the research of Aelius Galenus who was a prominent scholarly figure of the times who studied a mixture of philosophy, anatomy, and psychology. He came up with the theory of the six "non-natural things" which were studied in the medieval period then revisited and further developed in the Renaissance. This text is loosely structured by those six categories. Cogan, as a medical authority, is also key to supplying readers with scientific theory concerning good sleep habits and its affects on the people during the period.
Dannenfeldt, KH. "Sleep: Theory and Practice in the Late Renaissance" Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. 41.4
(1986): 415-441. Shakespeare Studies. Web. 28 April 2013.
Most of this article focuses on physicians during the fifteenth and sixteenth century and their recorded practices concerning digestion, the six unnatural humors, and sleep etiquette.
Day, Richard. A Booke of Christian Prayers. London: 1608. Amsterdam: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1977. EEBO. Web. 18 April 2013.
The illustration taken from page 10 of this book is being used as a supplement to the Christian beliefs noted for this time period. Many religious authorities believed that a person must be "watchful" of their immortal soul or risk being conquered by the devil. As such, monks practiced waking during odd hours of the night and morning to keep recite prayers like the one selected and keep "vigil" over their vulnerable spirits.
Elyot, Thomas. Castel of Helthe. London: 1561. EEBO. Web. 18 April 2013.
Like Cogan's literature, Elyot's book recognizes the six "non-naturals" of Galen and some of Aristotle's research on sleep. Elyot, unlike Cogan, is not a physician. However, he does compile a good amount of information concerning remedies to cure various sicknesses and bodily ailments. A smaller portion of his work is devoted to sleep and its affects on the body. What i find the most valuable of all the information provided is the defining of the four "humours" that rule the body and keep it in good health. This is an excellent read for scholars interested in looking at common medical practice from a non-medical perspective.
Hall, Ronald. "Sleeping Through Shakespeare." Shakespeare in Southern Africa 12 (1999/2000) 24-32.
Hall skims over Shakespeare's works and indicates how sleep plays a profound role in the development and / or destruction of various characters, depending on how sleep is utilized within the text.
Horne, James. Why We Sleep. NY: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print.
This is an older text, but it has some great case studies which outline the causes and consequences related to lack of sleep. Warning: there is a good amount of medical terminology used in this book.
Judd, Sandra J. Sleep Disorders Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information About Sleep Disorders, Including Insomnia, Sleep
Apnea and Snoring, Jet Lag and Other Circadian Rhythm Disorders, Narcolepsy, and Parasomnias, Such As Sleepwalking and Sleep
Paralysis, and Featuring Facts About Other Health Problems That Affect Sleep, Why Sleep Is Necessary, How Much Sleep Is
Needed, the Physical and Mental Effects of Sleep Deprivation, and Pediatric Sleep Issues, Along with Tips for Diagnosing and
Treating Sleep Disorders. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2010. Print.
This book provides up-to-date information pertaining to a sleep related disorders and provides some scientific theory into how Macbeth suffered from insomnia and Lady Macbeth experienced sleepwalking.
Parris, Benjamin. "The Body Is With The King, But The King Is Not With The Body": Sovereign Sleep In Hamlet And
Macbeth."Shakespeare Studies 40 (2012): 101-142. Academic Search Complete. Web. 12 April 2013.
This article goes into depth about the mystical bond between a monarch's natural and political bodies. Parris provides a lot of good information that explains why Macbeth "murdered sleep" and the strange supernatural connections between himself and his unraveling kingdom.
Totaro, Rebecca. "Securing sleep in Hamlet." Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 50.2 (Spring 2010): 407-26. JSTOR. Web. 12 April
2013.
This article deals with the idea that "sleep" and "watch" are two closely related terms in Shakespeare. By failing to keep watch of our physical and spiritual bodies, we fall asleep and, subsequently, become vulnerable to all manner of destructive forces.
Tryon, Thomas. A treatise of cleanness in meats and drinks, of the preparation of food, the excellency of good airs, and the benefits of
clean sweet beds. London, 1682. EEBO. 15 April 2013.
This text provides insight on how Elizabethan people viewed the transmission of sickness with regards to domestic hygiene. Tyron goes into explicit detail about a variety of bedding and how uncleanliness of said material can lead to humors, disease, and even death. There are guidelines provided for the reader which dictate what kind of mattress is best for optimal sleep and how a person who cannot afford proper bedding can still avoid an outbreak of illness and/or pestilence. In addition to furniture arrangements, there is also significant evidence in this source that indicates the level of knowledge about sleep with relation to sickness was still heavily influenced by environment (namely, the air) and the health of the individual.
Umanath, Sharda, Daniel Sarezky, and Stanley Finger. "Sleepwalking Through History: Medicine, Arts, And Courts Of Law." Journal of
The History Of The Neurosciences 20.4 (2011): 253-276. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 April 2013.
This article features an intriguing amount of casework involving (sleepwalking) that spans from the thirteenth century to the present. There are also various creative (and amusing) solutions listed which physicians utilized in order to handle afflicted patients suffering from sleepwalking episodes.