This is a study of William Shakespeare's major histories, tragedies, and comedies. Prerequisites: EN120 (or EN110/111) and any 200-level English literature class.
Shakespeare is generally considered the greatest writer in the history of the English Language. What made him so brilliant? We will study Shakespeare's background as well as that of contemporary Early Modern England, and read six of his plays and approximately 12 of his sonnets. We will also read contemporary analyses of Shakespeare to see how his work has managed to not only stand the test of time, but remain on the cutting edge of modern dramatic productions
Because Shakespeare is a dramatist, and dramas are meant to be seen and heard, not just read, we will see movie versions of many of the works we read. Through the combination of background, historical study, reading, and viewing of his works, we will get a clearer idea of what Shakespeare did in his writing, and what it has meant to the world.