ENG 412 - Shakespeare and Company

Semester Hours: 4

This is a Studies in Context course that focuses on Shakespeare as both Elizabethan and as “modern.” For centuries, writers have been inspired by the Bard to create works which reflect Shakespearean themes and issues, and which sometimes even adapt actual plot lines and characters to a more contemporary setting. Filmmakers have also freely interpreted and adapted Shakespeare, producing a variety of films which create another way to understand the playwright’s style and substance. In the last few years, Kenneth Branagh has championed Shakespeare’s power and art with several film renditions of his plays (Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet). This course will study Shakespeare’s art in two ways. We will read several plays, and study them carefully for their structure and meaning. Then, we will view several film versions or adaptations of these works and compare the modern text with the original. The various writing assignments and projects will allow students a chance to react to the text studied and to create their own interpretations of Shakespeare.