William Shakespeare 3301-LB200
The course offers an in-depth study of Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice and The Tempest, with a particular emphasis on the ideological dimension of these plays. The plays are discussed both within the framework of the Elizabethan worldview as well as in the context of contemporary interpretive proposals (e.g. H. Bloom, S. Greenblatt, R. Girard). Other topics include the editorial (in)stability of Shakespeare’s plays, the paradoxes of critical reception and the plays in performance.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE
1.the student gains/extends his/her knowledge about the most important schools and methodologies in literary criticism, culture studies and linguistics within English Studies
2. the student gains/extends his/her knowledge about the significance of cultural symbols and their role in interpreting artefacts of culture such as literature, popular culture and fine arts
3. the student gains/ extends his/her knowledge about the symbolic dimension of interaction within one culture as well as between cultures
4. K_W01 has in-depth familiarity with advanced terminology, theory and research methods corresponding to Shakespeare Studies
5. K_W04 has in-depth familiarity with concepts and principles concerning the protection of intellectual property and copyright
SKILLS
1. the student can apply basic / advanced methodology in linguistics, cultural studies and literary studies
2. the student can appreciate the richness and plurality of opinions as represented in readings and discussions and treats them as a source of inspiration rather than a threat to his/her own value system
3. the student can search for information in various sources, assess its usefulness and interpret it from a theoretical and practical angle in English Studies
4. K_U01 is able to apply the advanced terminology, theories and research methods of literary studies and culture and religion studies to solve complex and original research problems in Shakespeare Studies
5. K_U04 is able apply the concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law
COMPETENCES
1. the student is aware of the social significance of his/her knowledge, work and skills
2. the student consciously participates in his/her national culture, respects the European cultural heritage and shows understanding of and interest in diverse cultures of the world
3. the student is tolerant towards otherness and respects alternative cultural practices as well as alternative views of other individuals
4. K_K01 is ready to critically appraise their knowledge and content about Shakespeare Studies obtained from various sources
5. K_K02 is ready to recognize the importance of knowledge in solving cognitive and practical problems; consult experts when required
Language training level B+.
Assessment criteria
Written exam. Assessment of knowledge and analytical skills.
Bibliography
Critical editions:
W. Shakespeare (2015) Macbeth ed. by Sandra Clark, Pamela Mason. The Arden Shakespeare. Third Series. Bloomsbury.
W. Shakespeare (2007 [1997]) Macbeth ed. by Albert Richard Braunmuller. The New Cambridge Shakespeare. CUP.
W. Shakespeare (1972 [1964]) The Merchant of Venice ed. by John Russel Brown. The Arden Shakespeare. Second Series. London: Methuen and Co.
W. Shakespeare (2010) The Merchant of Venice ed. by John Drakakis. The Arden Shakespeare. Third W. Shakespeare (2012 [1987]) The Merchant of Venice ed. by M. M. Mahood. The New Cambridge Shakespeare. CUP.
W. Shakespeare (2008 [1993]) The Merchant of Venice ed. by Jay L. Halio. Oxford Shakespeare Series. OUP.
W. Shakespeare (2011) The Tempest ed. by Virginia Mason Vaughan, Alden T. Vaughan. The Arden Shakespeare, Third Series (revised edition). London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
W. Shakespeare (1989 [1954]) The Tempest ed. by Frank Kermode. The Arden Shakespeare. Second Series. London: Routledge.
W. Shakespeare (2007 [2002]) The Tempest ed. by David Lindley. The New Cambridge Shakespeare. CUP.
Critical literature (selection):
Harold Bloom (1998) Shakespeare. The Invention of the Human. New York: Riverhead Books.
René Girard (2004). A Theater of Envy. St. Augustine’s Press.
Margreta de Grazia and Stanley Wells (eds.) (2010) The New Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare. CUP.
Stephen Greenblatt (2004) Will in the World. How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare, New York: W. W. Norton and Co.
Frank Kermode (2001) Shakespeare’s Language. London: Penguin Books.
Bruce R. Smith (ed.) (2016) The Cambridge Guide to the Worlds of Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s World, 1500-1660. Volume I & II. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Paul Edmondson Stanley Wells (eds.) (2015) The Shakespeare Circle. An Alternative Biography. CUP.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: