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English Literature

Understanding Shakespeare

Eve Williams MMus

After the success of my best selling English Literature and World Lterature courses, many students messaged me with questions about Shakespeare, a towering figure in world literaure. Maybe you love Shakespeare or maybe you have been forced to read his work to pass an exam or you just can't make headway with the language. Peace, gentle friend. This course is for you.

Read more

After the success of my best selling English Literature and World Lterature courses, many students messaged me with questions about Shakespeare, a towering figure in world literaure. Maybe you love Shakespeare or maybe you have been forced to read his work to pass an exam or you just can't make headway with the language. Peace, gentle friend. This course is for you.

We will look at Shakespeare's life, language and the historical and literary context of his works. We will then look at his plays and poetry. For each text we will look at its sources, background and publication then a synopsis, an analysis of its themes and a commentary on key passages, then look at key productions you may be able to access. The videos end with a series of questions for you to reflect on your perceptions of the play/poem.

Texts Covered:

· Hamlet

· Othello

· King Lear

· Macbeth

· Romeo and Juliet

· Love’s Labour’s Lost

· Much Ado About Nothing

· Twelfth Night

· As You Like It

· A Midsummer Night’s Dream

· Pericles

· The Winter’s Tale

· Cymbeline

· The Tempest

· Julius Caesar

· Antony and Cleopatra

· Titus Andronicus

· Coriolanus

· Henry IV Parts I and II

· Henry V

· Richard III

· Henry VIII

· All’s Well That Ends Well

· Measure for Measure

· Troilus and Cressida

· The Sonnets

· Venus and Adonis

· The Rape of Lucrece

As a graduate of the prestigious Queen;s University of Belfast with both an Honours degree and Master's in English, and as the teacher of the best selling English Literature course on Udemy, I am delighted to be your guide through this adventure of treachery and intrigue, enchanted forests, the Roman forum, shipwrecks, mystical islands and the English court where we will meet kings, jesters, fairies, soldiers, star-cross'd lovers and a guy with a donkey's head.

Don't stop to ask 'to be, or not to be'. Enroll today with no risk due to Udemy's 30 day money back guarantee.

Prithee, join us anon and thou shalt know the Bard.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Discover what made shakespeare one of the greatest writers in world literature
  • Understand shakespeare's language
  • Find out about the themes of his plays and poetry
  • Engage with modern and historical criticism of shakespeare's work
  • See shakespeare in his historical and literary contexts
  • Enjoy some of the most beautiful literature ever written
  • Quote shakespeare
  • Use the set discussion questions and resources to formulate your own reponse to the texts
  • Learn about shakespeare's tragedies, comedies, romances, historical playsl classical plays, problem plays and his long poems and sonnets
  • Should you choose, you can engage with other students and the instructor at the monthly book club
  • Excel at english literature tests and essays on shakespeare
  • Discover great resources for studying the work of shakespeare
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Introduction
About Shakespeare
Shakespeare's Life
Shakespeare's Life and Times in Context
Read more
A Day at the Theatre: Life in Tudor England
The Theatre in Shakespeare's Day
The Language of Shakespeare
Literary Context of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry
Shakespeare's Works
Resources
Tragedies
The Genre of Tragedy
Hamlet
Othello
King Lear
Macbeth
Romeo and Juliet
The Winter's Tale
Comedies
Shakespeare's Comedies
Love's Labour's Lost
Much Ado About Nothing
Twelfth Night
As You Like It
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Romances
What is a Romance?
Pericles
Cymbeline
The Tempest
Classical or 'Roman' Plays
Shakespeare and the Classical World
Julius Caesar
Antony and Cleopatra
Titus Andronicus
Coriolanus
Historical Plays
The English History Plays
Henry IV Parts I and II
Henry V
Richard III
Henry VIII
The Problem Plays
So, what is the problem with the Problem Plays?
All's Well That Ends Well
Measure for Measure
Troilus and Cressida
Shakespeare's Sonnets
A Selection of Sonnets
Long or Narrative Poems
The Long Poems
Venus and Adonis
The Rape of Lucrece
Shakespeare for Today
Staging Shakeapeare in the 21st Century
Reading Shakespeare in the 21st Century
Shakespeare Quotes Quiz
Conclusion

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Taught by someone with a Masters in English
Suitable for beginners who wish to learn the basics of Shakespeare's work
Provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespeare's major works
Guided by thought provoking discussion questions after each lecture
In-depth analysis of Shakespeare's themes, language, and historical context
This course covers a wide range of Shakespeare's works, from tragedies to comedies to historical plays

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in English Literature: Understanding Shakespeare with these activities:
Review the language of Shakespeare
Read and familiarize yourself with the unique vocabulary and sentence structure of Shakespeare's works to enhance comprehension.
Show steps
  • Read a selection of Shakespeare's sonnets.
  • Note down unfamiliar words and phrases.
  • Refer to a glossary or online resources for definitions and explanations.
Review key themes and motifs in Shakespeare's plays
Refresh understanding of recurring themes and motifs to enhance analysis and interpretation of Shakespeare's works.
Browse courses on Literary Analysis
Show steps
  • Review course materials or online resources that summarize key themes and motifs.
  • Identify examples of these themes and motifs in specific plays.
  • Discuss the significance and impact of these themes and motifs in Shakespeare's works.
Review poetry analysis techniques
Review various methods and approaches to analyzing and understanding poetry by reading up on them online and watching instructional videos.
Browse courses on Poetry Analysis
Show steps
  • Identify existing knowledge gaps.
  • Determine which techniques will be useful in this course.
  • Explore textbooks, articles, and literary critique websites for information on poetry analysis.
  • Watch video tutorials on YouTube explaining analysis methods.
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Read 'The Oxford Shakespeare: Complete Works'
Gain comprehensive access to all of Shakespeare's works in a single volume, enabling thorough study and analysis.
Show steps
  • Acquire a copy of 'The Oxford Shakespeare: Complete Works'.
  • Read through the plays and poems at your own pace.
Complete Shakespearean sonnet comprehension exercises
Improve comprehension and analytical skills through practice with Shakespearean sonnets.
Browse courses on Poetry Analysis
Show steps
  • Find online or printed exercises that focus on Shakespearean sonnet analysis.
  • Read the sonnets provided and answer comprehension questions.
  • Discuss interpretations and literary devices used in the sonnets.
Compile a Shakespearean glossary
Build a comprehensive reference tool that aids understanding of Shakespeare's unique language and terminology.
Browse courses on Vocabulary Development
Show steps
  • Create a document or spreadsheet to organize your glossary.
  • Read through Shakespeare's works and identify unfamiliar words and phrases.
  • Research and record the definitions and explanations of these terms.
  • Categorize and organize the glossary entries.
Write a character analysis
Analyze and interpret the motivations, flaws, and complexities of Shakespeare's characters to deepen understanding and appreciation.
Browse courses on Character Analysis
Show steps
  • Choose a character from a Shakespearean play.
  • Identify key moments and quotes that reveal the character's traits.
  • Write an essay that discusses the character's development and significance.
Watch video lectures on Shakespearean criticism
Enhance understanding of Shakespeare's works through expert analysis and critical perspectives.
Browse courses on Literary Analysis
Show steps
  • Search for online video lectures on Shakespearean criticism.
  • Select lectures that cover topics relevant to the course.
  • Take notes and engage with the material.
Participate in a Shakespeare study group
Engage with peers to share insights, discuss interpretations, and deepen understanding of Shakespeare's works.
Browse courses on Collaborative Learning
Show steps
  • Find or create a study group with fellow students.
  • Choose a play or poem to focus on.
  • Meet regularly to discuss themes, characters, and literary devices.

Career center

Learners who complete English Literature: Understanding Shakespeare will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Effort
19 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Eve Williams MMus
Language
English
Good to know
Taught by someone with a Masters in English
Suitable for beginners who wish to learn the basics of Shakespeare's work
Provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespeare's major works
Guided by thought provoking discussion questions after each lecture
In-depth analysis of Shakespeare's themes, language, and historical context
This course covers a wide range of Shakespeare's works, from tragedies to comedies to historical plays
Share and help others discover this course
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