ENGL 240 - Shakespeare

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

Study of some representative comedies, histories, and tragedies.

Topic for 2019/20a: Shakespeare and Gender. This course offers an introduction to Shakespeare studies through the discussion of seven Shakespeare plays: The Taming of the Shrew, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Othello, and The Tempest. Situating these plays in the cultural and historical contexts in which they were written and performed, we are able to appreciate significant differences as well as intriguing continuities between early 17^th century and early 21^st century interpretations and representations regarding such basic concepts and institutions as gender, family, filial and marital duties, marriage, the “private sphere,” and sexuality. Moreover, by examining these plays in production both on the stage and on the screen, we try to determine their current meanings and cultural significance. To attain this second crucial aim, we view and discuss a stage production as well as several film adaptations of our plays and organize staged readings of selected scenes. Zoltán Márkus.

Not open to students who have taken ENGL 241-ENGL 242.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS