Fatal attraction – the darker side of plants

Aims

This course aims to: 

• compare and contrast legendary evil associations with the reality of plants’ active ingredients
• gain an insight into the way both the Bible and Shakespeare use poisonous plants to convey a message
• acquire a greater awareness that plants can kill

Content

We will examine the origins of the names given to poisonous plants, some mysterious with evil associations, others growing in the gardens around us. The approach will be to follow a trail of associations and uses that have grown up alongside the plants. Let us not forget that ‘toxic’ lies at the centre of intoxication so we will examine how they weave a colourful narrative through so much of both classical and modern literature. We start with Ian Fleming’s chapters ‘The Death Collector’ and ‘Slay it with Flowers’ in You Only Live Twice, so much more deadly in print than the film. Hemlock is inextricably linked to Socrates choice as a means of death but identifying and harnessing potentially deadly plants is a staple of classical writings from Lucretius to Hippocrates. The King James Bible was translated from Latin to make the English words accessible, however, many plants were given names that would be familiar to a congregation. At the same time tobacco was being introduced and popularised although loathed by the king, we will look at its deadly legacy. Shakespeare used plants to set scenes of love to contrast with revenge and mortal danger, identifying their cryptic language provides a deeper understanding. Our final session examines the creation of ‘The Poison Garden’ the choice of deadly plantings and telling the stories to the public.

Presentation of the course 

PowerPoint lectures will provide detailed illustrations, active participation is encouraged, raising questions and discussions form an integral part of the course. Equally there will be references to poetry, prose and songs which include poisonous plants, you are invited to contribute ones known to you.

Course sessions

1. Doctor Shatterhand’s garden is indeed a lovesome thing, God wot 
   A remark made by James Bond in You Only Live Twice provides a good introduction to the myths, mystery and power of poisonous plants. We start by identifying six categories of poisons before examining Fleming’s chosen list.
2. What is food to one, is to others bitter poison 
   This quote from Lucretius provides a starting point in identifying the classical plant poisons along with the origin of ‘One man’s meat is another’s poison’. We will compare Socrates death with the medicinal advice of Hippocrates, placing both men geographically and in 
   classical writings. 
3. Lost in translation – sifting the wheat from the tares - and Virginian Gold 
   Complex godly and ungodly currents flowed across Jacobean England as well as plague. About fifty scholars from Cambridge, Oxford and London were selected to translate a new English version of the Bible. After identifying the powerful plants cited, we will contrast and compare the introduction of tobacco and its poisonous outcomes.
4. Fragrant smells and poisonous hells - Shakespearean tragedy in the world of plants 
   We enter the botanical and intellectual world of Elizabethan and Jacobean England, herbs and health to power and tragedy. The subtle use of Latin versus common names such as mandragora and mandrake, what is the ‘insane root’ in Hamlet?
5. Permission to Poison - The Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle 
   We explore the research that led to the Course Director devising the planting, writing the guide notes and warnings to the gardeners working within the enclosure of this garden of death. An outcome to show that knowledge is a better weapon than ignorance.

Learning outcomes

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course. 

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• to have a greater understanding of the power of plants
• to identify poisonous plants known only by literary or legendary names
• to view in a new light Alexander Pope’s dictum that ‘a little learning is a dangerous thing’ 

Required reading

There is no required reading for this course

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.