This course will examine the dramaturgy of William Shakespeare, beginning early in his career with The Comedy of Errors and ending with The Tempest. Lectures will typically pair each play with a larger set of questions meant to submerge that work within its cultural, and intellectual, surround. Thus, Romeo and Juliet will be presented in relation to the early modern period's fascination with the Neoplatonic theory of love, while Twelfth Night will be assessed with Renaissance theories of sex and gender in mind. Other topics with which we will engage will include philosophical skepticism (Hamlet and Othello) and notions of political absolutism (Macbeth and King Lear). In that Shakespeare routinely returns to certain topics again and again, we too will circle around these issues, including the institution of marriage, the bonds that constitute friendship and family, and the broader questions of what it means to think historically and nationalistically as a writer. In this course, students will therefore learn a lot about the world in which Shakespeare lived. But more importantly, students will learn to read Shakespeare—to weigh his metaphors, to study how he develops characters, and to see how he builds upon, and expands, his artistic repertoire during his remarkable career. In an attempt to appreciate the interpretive possibilities opened up by Shakespearean drama (and also because it is fun), we will regularly view scenes from modern, cinematic adaptations of the plays we read. Discussion sections will be devoted to close-reading exercises and to the consideration of any number of thematic and interpretive issues not touched upon in lecture. Only one book will be required: The Norton Shakespeare: Second Edition.

Intended Audience:

Online-only students are welcome!

Class Format:

Exams: Synchronous and Online

Lectures: Synchronous and Online

Class Discussions: Synchronous and Online