Close
Description
The aim of this third-year core course is to introduce students to the study of Shakespeare at a high level. Its objectives are to cover as many plays and poems as is consistent with some depth.
听
Weekly lectures are supported by fortnightly seminars which investigate individual plays in detail. Four set plays are set for special study each year: these form the basis of the autumn term seminars and are examined in a separate section on the Finals examination paper. The spring term seminars are sign-up, offering students a choice from five or six topics. These sign-up seminars offer opportunities for teachers to share their specialist interests, and for students to develop their own personal expertise.
听
An introductory lecture sets out the chronology and canon of Shakespeare's work, and basic textual and editorial information. Lectures on each of the four set plays are given in the autumn term; the rest of the lectures in both terms cover further plays, poems, and a variety of critical methodologies for studying Shakespeare. By the end of the course students should feel that they have substantial knowledge of a range of Shakespeare鈥檚 works and are familiar with key topics in current Shakespeare studies.
听
The course is complemented by an extensive reading list, and lecturers and seminar-leaders recommend further reading in relation to individual lecture and seminar themes. The final examination is an online, open-book paper lasting six hours. The aim is to encourage candidates to give considered answers, to show how they can work closely with Shakespeare鈥檚 works, and to show how their work on the course has equipped them to think on their feet about Shakespeare. There are commentary as well as essay questions on the set plays in the first section of the exam.
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
听