This is a general introduction to the plays of William Shakespeare. We will study the following twelve plays: The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, Titus Andronicus, Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, Hamlet, Measure for Measure, Antony and Cleopatra, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest. Among issues to be covered are: Shakespeare’s use of language, dramatic structures and genre conventions; consideration of his work in its original historical and cultural contexts (this includes the Elizabethan and Jacobean performing space); and the history of Shakespeare scholarship.
Rooster
The timetable will be available from June 1st on the Internet.
Onderwijsvorm
Two-hour seminar per week.
A la carte- en contractonderwijs
Belangstellenden die deze cursus in het kader van Contractonderwijs willen volgen (met tentamen), vinden hier meer informatie over kosten, inschrijving, voorwaarden etc.
This class is not available as A la carte course.
Leerdoelen
To come to know more about the chronology and generic variety of Shakespeare’s plays, as understanding why Shakespeare has become an icon of Englishness. Also to consider Shakespeare as both poet, businessman, and theatre professional in the social and cultural circumstances of his time.
Literatuur
- G. Blakemore Evans, et al., eds, The Riverside Shakespeare, second edition (New York & Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997). This is generally regarded as the best one-volume Shakespeare around. Advice will be given on the purchase of edition of single plays (the three main series are the Oxford World’s Classic, The New Shakespeare.
Toetsing
Written paper (40%), written test (60%).
Informatie
Department of English, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102c, English@hum.leidenuniv.nl