ENGL 241 - Shakespeare

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

(Same as DRAM 241) Study of a substantial number of the plays, roughly in chronological order, to permit a detailed consideration of the range and variety of Shakespeare’s dramatic art. Zoltan Markus.

Topic 2025/26b: Comedies. This course offers an introduction to Shakespeare studies through the discussion of Shakespeare’s comedies, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, and The Winter’s Tale. It has a double objective: on the one hand, it offers insights into the cultural and theatrical contexts in which Shakespeare created his works as well as into the textual processes in which these works have survived. On the other, by focusing specifically on comedies, the course pays particular attention to gender, sexuality, and the “private sphere.” By situating these plays in the cultural and historical contexts in which they were written and performed, we will be able to appreciate significant differences as well as intriguing continuities between early 17th century and early 21st century interpretations and representations regarding such basic concepts and institutions as gender, family, filial and marital duties, marriage, and sexuality.

Not open to students who have taken ENGL 240.

This course satisfies the pre-1800 requirement for the English major.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS