UMass Boston

Shakespeare

Course #: ENGL 633, Class #: 4144, Section #: 01

Description

This course considers Shakespeare's dramatic art as an art of coaching an audience (and readers) in how to respond to and understand his make-believes. Multiple plotting, recurring situation, contrasts and parallels in character and character relations (especially the use of theatricalizing characters who stage plays within the play), patterns of figurative language, repetition of visual effects these and other such "structures" will be considered as means whereby Shakespeare coaxes and coaches the perception of his audience, shapes the participation of mind and feeling, and especially, prepares audiences for comic or tragic outcomes. The plays are studied in the light of ongoing critical and/or theoretical debates.

Prerequisites

Graduate students in ENGL only