This class is a semester-long, literature based English elective. As the name implies, this course covers the life, times, and works of William Shakespeare. We will explore enough of the culture and history of the time in which he wrote to better understand his plays and the theatre of his day. We will read four of his major plays: one comedy, one tragedy, one romance and one history. Your primary goal will be to develop skills and habits that enable you to closely read a play. We will also examine a selection of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed before an audience. As such, we must also examine performances of his plays. We have excellent film versions of most of the plays we are reading; with one of these plays we will examine parts of more than one film by different directors. The course includes a thorough grounding in film literacy centered on directors’ choices in producing the plays. The performance aspect of the course includes you, the student. Though this is not a theater class, you will be expected to participate in a variety of performance-based activities in class. After all, Shakespeare himself was an actor! Though this is a literature-based class, writing is a significant component.
Content and Reading Schedule:
Much Ado About Nothing (comedy) – February
The Tempest (romance)- March
Henry V (history) – April/May
Hamlet (tragedy) – May/June
Sonnets – throughout
Shakespeare wrote his plays to be performed before an audience. As such, we must also examine performances of his plays. We have excellent film versions of most of the plays we are reading; with one of these plays we will examine parts of more than one film by different directors. The course includes a thorough grounding in film literacy centered on directors’ choices in producing the plays. The performance aspect of the course includes you, the student. Though this is not a theater class, you will be expected to participate in a variety of performance-based activities in class. After all, Shakespeare himself was an actor! Though this is a literature-based class, writing is a significant component.
Content and Reading Schedule:
Much Ado About Nothing (comedy) – February
The Tempest (romance)- March
Henry V (history) – April/May
Hamlet (tragedy) – May/June
Sonnets – throughout