 Department of English Language and Literature |
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| English 304: Bible as Literature This course examines the plays and poetry that Shakespeare created in the last half of his career. We will read four of the tragedies, including Macbeth, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra,and King Lear. We will also study two of the comedies that Shakespeare wrote during the period in which he was focused primarily on writing tragedies. These later comedies—Measure for Measure and The Winter’s Tale—are often classified as “problem” comedies, since they contain elements of tragedy, as well of comedy. We will then finish the semester with The Tempest, which is often described as Shakespeare’s farewell to the stage. I am interested in how theatre reflects the religious, political, and social stratification of the period in which drama is created, and so students should expect class discussions to consider what Shakespeare’s plays suggest about his world. Requirements include several short homework assignments, 2-3 papers, a presentation, and a research paper. Active participation in class discussions is an important requirement and will be reflected in student grades. Texts: The Norton Shakespeare
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