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Shakespeare and Critical Theory
ENGL220 SP

This course has two aims: to introduce students to the various critical methodologies, including Marxism, feminism, psychoanalysis, New Historicism, gay theory and post-colonial criticism, that have transformed the study of literature since the 1960s; and to explore how these different methodologies have been employed within Shakespeare studies to interpret the linguistic, theatrical, political and historical dimensions of the plays, their relations to ideology and society, and the history of their critical reception. Although substantial attention will be devoted to reading the plays themselves, the course will focus equally on reading others' readings of Shakespeare. Class discussions will focus initially on the ideologies that have shaped Shakespeare criticism and then will consider the ways in which different critical paradigms relate to, address or occlude one another.

MAJOR READINGS

Shakespeare. HAMLET, OTHELLO, AS YOU LIKE IT, HENRY V, THE TEMPEST E.M.W. Tillyard. THE ELIZABETHAN WORLD PICTURE Jean Howard & Marion O'Connor. SHAKESPEARE REPRODUCED Jonathan Dollimore & Alan Sinfield. POLITICAL SHAKESPEARE. Catherine Belsey. CRITICAL PRACTICE Drekakis, ALTERNATIVE SHAKESPEARES

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

A mid-term, final paper, and class presentation.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course counts toward the department's Pre-1800 and Theory requirements. Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: ENGL201

Last Updated on MAR-24-2000

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