This class explores how Shakespeare helps us understand the world we live in. Exploring why his plays are still relevant today, this class will introduce the enduring appeal of his works. This class will also help students understand and appreciate his plays, bearing in mind that they reflect social and cultural contexts in which he wrote. Hopefully, through this class, students will develop a richer sense of humanity in order to play an active role as a global citizen in the 21st century.
Undergraduate students will read a selection of famous scenes, while graduate students need to read the entire play for some of the plays covered in this class. All students receive lectures and write comments on weekly classes. We will watch DVDs of past performances and consider how his plays should be performed today.
Graduate students are expected to facilitate discussions, read one academic monograph on Shakespeare, write a book review, and make use of its content in the final report.