Department of English

his class is designed for students interested in becoming familiar (or more familiar) with Shakespeare's work through a study of nine of his plays. Our focus will be on the structure and language of the plays, their dramatic form and genres, and their relations to the social and political tensions of Shakespeare's time. The course centers on close readings of the texts and is designed to develop facility in reading Shakespeare's language and in dealing critically with the issues raised by the plays, but our readings will also be supplemented by historical texts and contexts, performance and theater histories, as we attempt to place the plays in their historical moment as well as in our own. Classes will consist of two lectures and one recitation per week. Requirements: recitation attendance and participation, midterm exam, final exam, and two papers.

Fulfills College General Requirement for Arts and Letters