Understanding Shakespeare: The Nature of Performance

This course will explore Shakespeare’s plays with a focus on his tragedies. Possible readings include Hamlet, Julius Caesar and Macbeth as well as selections from Shakespeare’s sonnets. We will watch performances in class and stage moments of the plays ourselves to gain greater insight into the way that plays make meaning. Additionally, we’ll study Shakespeare’s drama through both primary and secondary texts. The course is suitable for students with little or no prior knowledge of Shakespeare and also for those wishing to become more familiar with the playwright’s work.