ENGL 348A

Shakespeare and the Renaissance (3 credits)

Instructor: Dr. Jane L. Gooch
Section: 005
Term: 2

This course will begin by briefly placing Shakespeare’s plays in the pertinent cultural and historical context and by considering the nature of Shakespeare’s theatre.  Discussion in class will focus on six plays representing different genres, beginning with a history play and followed by a comedy, two tragedies, and two romances.  Shakespeare’s handling of major themes, specifically the nature of order, change, identity, and perception, will be examined in the individual plays and in relation to the other plays on the reading list.  Students will not be required to perform a scene from a play in class, but they are strongly encouraged to watch available performances of plays on the reading list.  They will be asked to prepare a short report on a production of one of the plays discussed in class.

Texts (Individual Signet editions of the following Shakespeare plays):

• Henry V
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Hamlet
• Othello
• The Winter’s Tale
• The Tempest

Course Requirements: