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Key facts
| Type | Weekly Classes |
|---|---|
| Location | Reading |
| Address | Room 110 Building 22 London Road Campus Reading |
| Dates | Tue 15 Jan to Tue 19 Mar 2013 Day: Tuesday Time of meeting: 7.00-9.00pm Number of meetings: 10 |
| Subject area(s) | Literature |
| CATS points | 10 |
| Fees | From £145.00 |
| Application status | Course ended |
| Course code | R12P412LTW |
| Course contact | If you have any questions about this course, please email ppweekly@conted.ox.ac.uk. |
Overview
Through the study of three of Shakespeare's plays, one tragedy, Macbeth, one comedy, Much Ado about Nothing, and one history play, Henry V, this course will widen and deepen students' appreciation of the greatest playwright of all.Description
Shakespeare is unarguably the best-known playwright of all time, but how well do we really know his plays? Which are tragedies, and which comedies? What is a fatal flaw, and why do comedies have a 'disturbed middle'? What view of warfare do we find in Henry V? Through the study of three of Shakespeare's plays, one tragedy, 'Macbeth', one comedy, 'Much Ado about Nothing', and one history play, 'Henry V', this course examine topics such as the noble hero and the fatal flaw in 'Macbeth', the disturbed middle in 'Much Ado About Nothing' with the resulting potential for tragedy that it brings, and the view of war implicit in 'Henry V' We shall also study the language of all three plays, using rhetorical analysis to widen and deepen our appreciaton and comprehension of Shakespeare's glorious language.Programme details
Week 1: Introduction. An overview of the course and an examination of some of the topics to be coveredWeek 2: 'Much Ado about Nothing'. What is the comic mode?
Week 3: 'Much Ado about Nothing'. Rhetoric
Week 4: Overview of two other comedies
Week 5: 'Macbeth' The tragic mode
Week 6: 'Macbeth'. The fatal flaw
Week 7: Overview of three tragedies
Week 8: 'Henry V'
Week 9: 'Henry V'. Rhetoric
Week 10: Conclusion. Review of the plays studied on the course.
Background reading:
de Grazia,M. & Wells, S. (ed) The New Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare (2010) Cambridge University Press
Kermode, F. Shakespeare's Language
Crystal, D. Think on my Words
Staff
Dr Penny Billyeald
Role: Tutor
Penny Billyeald lives in a village near Reading. Her main research interests are Golden age crime and detective fiction and the poetry of the First...more
Course aims
Course aim:This course aims to introduce students who may be unfamiliar with much of Shakespeare's work to three contrasting plays, and to widen and deepen the appreciation of students who already have some knowledge of the chosen plays.
Course objectives:
1. To introduce students to three contrasting Shakespeare plays
2. To widen their appreciation of these plays
3. To deepen their understanding of the tragic and comic modes
Assessment methods
Students may either complete three short assignments (350 words) one on each play studied, or may complete one 1,000 word assignment from a choice of topics they will be given. Alternatively they may make their own choice of an aspect of the plays studied on the course on which to write, but must discuss this with the tutor before completing the assignment.Teaching methods
Teaching will be through mini-lectures, discussion and questions. Some film or television clips may be shown.Teaching outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:Recognise the essential elements of the tragic and comic modes and the history plays
Analyse in rhetorical terms the language used in the plays
Explore for themselves other Shakespeare plays
Apply for this course
Sorry, this course is not currently accepting applications. If you have any questions about this course, please use the course enquiry form.