LFU:online

Students will gain a deep understanding of the key themes addressed in Shakespeare's plays and their connection to political and cultural issues in the Early Modern era. They will learn to contextualise the plays and assess their relevance to today's society. In the course of the seminar, students will enhance their ability to reflect upon and discuss the function of drama. Further, they will be introduced to theories of historiography, adaptation and appropriation, and gender theory, and learn to critically reflect upon these different approaches.

According to Ben Jonson, Shakespeare was “not of an age but for all time”. This claim has been confirmed by the vast number of adaptations and appropriations of Shakespeare’s works. Especially with regard to recent political and cultural developments, Shakespeare’s plays have become highly relevant again insofar as they expose the mechanisms governing the construction of ‘otherness’, explore notions of Englishness, and engage in debates about ethnic differences, principles of power, gender politics, historiography, and the desire for as well as the power of performance. In addition to considering their connection to Early Modern politics and culture, we will explore the alleged timelessness and universality of Shakespeare’s plays and discuss to what extent his works are still relevant today, based on Shakespeare’s plays and selected (film) adaptations. Students are expected to have read The Merchant of Venice by the start of the course. Further reading will be made available by the beginning of the semester.

Regular and lively participation, short oral presentation, regular participation in the course blog, and a final paper.

oral (active participation in class and in the course blog, short presentation) and written (final paper)

William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice (Arden or Oxford edition)

William Shakespeare, Othello (Arden or Oxford edition)

William Shakespeare, Richard III (Arden or Oxford edition)

William Shakepseare, Henry V (Arden or Oxford edition)

William Shakespeare, Coriolanus (Arden or Oxford edition)

Positive completion of first part of studies (1. Studienabschnitt).