Studies in Shakespeare

This survey studies representative comedies, histories, tragedies, problem plays, and sonnets composed by Shakespeare. This course is thus asking what Shakespeare is, equally important, how we read Shakespeare, and finally, what do we do today with Shakespeare. Also central to this course is situating Shakespeare within the period of Early Modern English, and the articulation of major artists, works, and ideas of the period. Students are to define various literary critical approaches to the period and apply those to given texts. Offered annually. Prerequisite: Any 200-level English offering.