Shakespeare’s Tragedies (LIT2421.01)

Paul La Farge

In this course, we’ll read a selection of Shakespeare’s tragedies, including Anthony and Cleopatra, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet. We’ll consider the historical context of the plays, their sources, and the shadows they have cast on subsequent cultural productions. We’ll study Shakespeare’s language closely, and think about what his depictions of murder, betrayal, revenge, factionalism, war, madness, desire, and despair might help us to understand about our present world.


Learning Outcomes:
--An understanding of some of Shakespeare's major works;
--The ability to read a work of literature closely, even (or especially) when the language and figuration are difficult and/or unfamiliar;
--The ability to write critically about Shakespeare's work, both as a literary object and as a text for performance.


Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
T/F 4:10PM - 6:00PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years

Categories: All courses , Fully In-Person , Literature
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