What did classical Greco-Roman antiquity mean to Shakespeare, and why did he turn to ancient Greece and Rome to explore the great questions of human existence through the medium of drama? In pursuit of answers to these questions, this course will examine a selection of Shakespeare’s plays about the classical past (Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Timon of Athens) as well as one (The Tempest) strongly influenced by an ancient Roman comedy. In addition to studying the plays as great theater in their own right, we will consider them both with and against Shakespeare’s ancient Greek and Roman sources in Plautus, Vergil, Ovid, Seneca, Plutarch, and others (all studied in translation), so as to grasp how Shakespeare staged, transformed, and adapted the ancient world for audiences of his day.
Course Requirements:
Evaluation will be based on regular attendance and participation in class discussion, a midterm assignment, an in-class presentation, and a final paper.
Intended Audience:
First year students. No prior knowledge of the subject is required.
Class Format:
Two meetings per week. Seminar format.