Adventures in Shakespeare

Overview

This module introduces students to Shakespeare’s work across his career. It examines the range of genres in which he wrote, including comedy, tragedy, history and romance, to think about Shakespeare’s use of literary form and the possible problems with generic categorisation. The module will involve a critical engagement with representations of race, disability, gender, age, violence, justice, environment and belief as well as working closely with questions about language and style. Students will also reflect upon Shakespeare’s relevance today.

Learning Objectives

Students will develop their understanding of poetic and dramatic genres, including comedy, tragedy, history and romance, through a close engagement with a range of Shakespeare’s work. Students will learn how and why plays are classified, as well as understanding the possibilities and problematics of classification.

Students will gain advanced knowledge of Shakespearean poetry and drama across his career and be able to engage with the changing representation of issues such as gender, race, disability, violence and environment.

Students will and understand the applicability of Shakespeare’s work today and be able to reflect critically on the ways in which literature relates to contemporary social issues and debates.

Skills

Students will advance their skills in close reading of sixteenth and seventeenth century poetic and dramatic literature.

Students will develop skills in comparative analysis and written communication.

Students will develop reflexive thinking and independent critical and analytical skills.

Students will acquire skills in writing clearly about literary form and genre and about the chronological span of Shakespeare’s work.

Students will be able to articulate the relevance of Shakespeare’s work today.

Assessment

None