Shakespeare: Comedies

One-semester course. In this course, students will read through a selection of some of Shakespeare’s most popular and enduring comedies. They will read and discuss the plays, answering and asking questions about the characters, plot, setting, style, and language of the works, as well as the distinctive features of his comedies as a genre. In addition, selected passages will be available for dramatic readings in class. They will consider Shakespeare within the context of his own time, examine the influences and sources Shakespeare drew from, and observe the legacy of these plays down to our own time. The course will focus on appreciating and enjoying the humor, depth, and influence of Shakespeare, while encouraging the students to explore the characters, themes, and cultural influence of the plays.