ENH4700

Drama of the age of Shakespeare

P Ayres

12 points - 2 hours per week - First semester - Clayton

Objectives On successfully completing the subject, students should have a good understanding of a representative range of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, and of their theatrical, political and philosophic contexts.

Synopsis This subject covers Shakespeare's plays in their various categories, as well as plays by the most outstanding of his contemporaries. Each work is studied in its theatrical, political and philosophical contexts, and in many seminars individual scenes in historically important productions will be watched on video (eg the lead up to the murder of Duncan in Macbeth as directed by Polanski, Kurosawa and the RSC). Shakespeare's varying reception across the centuries will be considered, and some attention will be given to transformations of Shakespeare into other media (eg into grand opera: Verdi, Otello, on film).

Assessment Two seminar papers (1500 words): 15% each - Essay (2500 words): 30% - Essay (3500 words): 40%

Prescribed texts

Jonson B Volpone Benn
Marlowe C Doctor Faustus Benn
Middleton T and Rowley W The Changeling Benn
Shakespeare W Othello Signet
Shakespeare W Macbeth Signet
Shakespeare W King Lear Signet
Shakespeare W Julius Caesar Signet
Shakespeare W Antony and Cleopatra Signet
Shakespeare W Richard III Signet
Shakespeare W Henry V Signet
Shakespeare The Winter's Tale Signet
Tourneur C The Revenger's Tragedy Benn
Webster J The Duchess of Malfi Benn

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