English 145B
Shakespeare's Early Plays

SacCT

Texts

The Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night, Henry IV Part One, Julius Caesar (Folger editions)

Course Description and Goals

In this course, we will read six of Shakespeare's early plays within their cultural and historical contexts. We will consider how heroes, women, and moral problems are portrayed; and how the portrayals reveal gender, class, and familial relationships as well as illuminate significant themes in the plays-- themes such as power, ambition, justice, mercy, honor, revenge, love, and jealousy.

The course will include short lectures, film clips, critical readings, and dramatic performances. There will also be plenty of opportunities for class discussion. I expect you to come to class prepared to contribute your responses to the reading questions for each play, as well as to ask your own questions.

By the end of the semester, you should be able to:

1. enjoy Shakespeare's plays, both on the stage as well as on the page
2. develop your own interpretations of Shakespeare's plays through literary analysis
3. articulate your understanding of the plays and their relevance to our contemporary lives
4. continue to explore more Shakespeare plays on your own-- with confidence and pleasure.
   

Faculty Home Page

English Department
California State University, Sacramento