Lectures on Shakespeare and reading of his best works.

This class focuses on a selection of works from Shakespeare’s entire career. We'll be reading a limited number of plays and some of the poetry. One of the main topics we'd like to focus on is the oscillation between regular and irregular. What is the rule, and what is the exception in Shakespeare's works? Who has the last word in a tragedy and why? What about comedies ending with a character addressing the audience? What are the rules of theater, and what are the rules of literature? Who creates them and for what purpose? When do they get transgressed, and why? A tentative list of the readings includes Midsummer Night’s Dream, Troilus and Cressida, King Lear, and Cymbeline, as well as the sonnets. The format of the class includes lectures as well as discussion, all based on questions and comments from students. All texts will be made available on bCourses. Grading will be based on two essays, a final exam, and course participation, including required bCourses posts.

We will be using the Folger's texts, which are freely available on the Folger Shakespeare Library's website. Keep in mind that the free digital copies do not include footnotes; if you want to have annotated hard copies, I recommend purchasing the Folger editions.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.