Title: SHAKESPEARE

PRQ:

“To be, or not to be”?  From childhood, we are surrounded by the “Word, words, words” of William Shakespeare.  But how did his contemporary audiences respond to his plays, on the stage and on the page?  Why have his plays become staples of Western culture?  This course will explore a number of Shakespeare’s plays and poems within their historical contexts, as we also consider their continued influence on modern society.  We will attend to various influences on his writing, including theatrical, political, and religious factors in Shakespeare’s England.  We also will consider how the printing press contributed to early audiences’ exposure to Shakespeare.  Our own exposure to his plays will include film versions and adaptations as we interpret together the texts of Shakespeare.

Two critical essays, occasional brief assignments, quizzes, a final exam, and class participation.

William Shakespeare, The Complete Works [The Complete Pelican Shakespeare], general editors Stephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller (London: Penguin, 2002).