Shakespeare Matters from edX

Shakespeare’s work has influenced the way we think about our relationships and ourselves. His plays are still as relevant today as when they were written almost 400 years ago.

In this introductory course, you will learn how Shakespeare uses emotion in his plays, how his characters experience and manipulate emotions, and how the emotional resonance of the plays makes them powerfully relevant to the modern world.

As you follow and engage with the emotional journeys of characters in tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, and history; you will discover patterns of plot, action, and speech that will help you appreciate, understand, and discuss Shakespeare’s plays.

Each week of the course will focus on a different emotion. You’ll cover the range of emotions found in Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, The Winter’s Tale, and King Henry V.

This course includes interactive activities, and interviews with a range of people engaged creatively and professionally with Shakespeare’s plays. You’ll be encouraged to interpret Shakespeare in your own way - to find ‘your Shakespeare.’

You will learn how to read a Shakespeare play and gain the tools you need to interpret its language. You will also have the opportunity to experience what it’s like to direct scenes from the plays. And you’ll learn about the various kinds of Shakespearean drama, and the dramatic and poetic techniques Shakespeare uses to investigate the human condition.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Why shakespeare still matters, all through a focus on emotions
Ideas and techniques that will help you understand as well as enjoy shakespeare’s plays

How to understand and appreciate shakespeare’s language and its power

Why shakespeare still matters, all through a focus on emotions
Ideas and techniques that will help you understand as well as enjoy shakespeare’s plays
How to understand and appreciate shakespeare’s language and its power

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Exposes foundational elements for those learning English literature in higher education

Features a wide range of materials including videos, readings, and discussions

Explores how emotion plays a crucial role in Shakespeare's works

Teaches techniques for understanding and interpreting Shakespeare's language

Provides opportunities to practice directing scenes from Shakespeare's plays

Offers a comprehensive overview of different types of Shakespearean drama

Reviews summary

Shakespeare matters: an engaging course for beginners and experts alike

Learners say that this course is an enjoyable introduction to Shakespeare suitable for beginners and experienced learners alike. It covers a variety of plays and uses engaging assignments like discussions, readings, and performances to help students understand how emotions are used in Shakespeare's works. The course is well-structured and thought-provoking, and the participation of the course educators in the discussion forums is a valuable bonus.

Students can interact with the instructors and other students in the discussion forums.

"The discussion sections of the course are fun as you share your opinions on the significant speeches in the plays covered."

"Students from different places and cultures was a valuable part of the course experience."

"An excellent course: I learned a lot, and I am very grateful for all of the hard work that went into creating it."

The course is organized in a way that makes it easy to follow and understand.

"This extremely well-structured and thought-provoking course..."

"This was an interesting and informative course suitable for both beginners and intermediate level learners."

"I gained so much from this course. It was so well constructed and easy to follow."

The course provides new insights into Shakespeare's plays, even for those who are familiar with them.

"I was already very familiar with 4 of the 5 plays, but still found the content to be interesting and providing new insights."

"I have read all of Shakespeare's works, seen so many productions/interperatations, and yet this course stimulated much thought and discussion."

"Anyone who would like to know more about how Shakespeare crafted his plays."

The course is suitable for beginners and those with some experience with Shakespeare.

"It's particularly useful for those who interested in understanding Shakespeare's plays."

"This was my first experience with Shakespeare and I did enjoy it."

"Suitable for first-time Shakespeare learners as well as providing new insights for those who have experienced the plays before."

Students learn new ways to look at Shakespeare's work.

"I certainly learnt things new to me in the course..."

"Helped me find new ways to present Shakespeare's work...while also bolstering literacy."

"I found it genuinely instructive, and the participation...of the course educators was a very big and valuable added bonus."

This course is highly engaging and feels more like a discussion than a course.

"Thoroughly enjoyed the course."

"The course felt like an engaging discussion or conversation about Shakespeare and his works, rather than a “course”."

"I really enjoyed this course!"

Some students found the videos of actors playing scenes to be subpar.

"My only suggestion for improvement would be to redo a few of the videos of actors playing scenes."

"It's a bit confusing if they are not played to another person."

"I would also suggest recruiting acting students to play scenes with more than one person talking."

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 Shakespeare Matters with these activities:

Volunteer at a local theater group to assist with a production of a Shakespeare play.

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Gain practical experience with Shakespeare's plays while supporting your community.

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Contact local theater groups to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Attend an audition or interview to secure a volunteer position.
Assist with tasks such as ushering, set construction, or costume design.
Observe the rehearsals and performances of the play.
Reflect on your experience and how it has deepened your understanding of Shakespeare's plays.

Write a Shakespearean sonnet

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Practice writing in the style of Shakespeare and explore themes of love, loss, and beauty.

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Research the structure and rhyme scheme of a Shakespearean sonnet.
Brainstorm a topic for your sonnet.
Write a rough draft of your sonnet.
Revise and edit your sonnet.
Share your sonnet with a friend or family member for feedback.

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Career center

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

Actor

Actors bring Shakespeare's characters to life on stage and screen. This course provides a deep understanding of Shakespeare's language, emotions, and dramatic techniques, which are essential for actors to effectively portray his characters. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, actors can gain insights into the motivations and complexities of the characters they play.

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Director

Directors are responsible for interpreting and staging Shakespeare's plays for the stage or screen. This course provides directors with the tools they need to understand Shakespeare's language, analyze his plays, and develop their own unique interpretations. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, directors can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to create successful and engaging productions.

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Playwright

Playwrights write plays for the stage or screen. This course provides playwrights with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's dramatic techniques, character development, and use of language. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, playwrights can gain the skills they need to write their own successful and engaging plays.

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Teacher

Teachers introduce students to Shakespeare's plays and help them understand and appreciate his work. This course provides teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to teach Shakespeare effectively. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, teachers can gain the confidence and expertise to engage their students in the study of Shakespeare.

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Literary Agent

Literary agents represent authors and help them to get their work published. This course provides literary agents with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's work and its significance in the literary world. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, literary agents can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to represent authors who write about Shakespeare or are influenced by his work.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find and access information about Shakespeare and his work. This course provides librarians with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's plays and their cultural significance. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, librarians can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to assist patrons with their research on Shakespeare.

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Professor

Professors teach and research Shakespeare's work at universities and colleges. This course provides professors with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's plays and their critical reception. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, professors can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to teach and write about Shakespeare at a high level.

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Critic

Critics write reviews and essays about Shakespeare's work. This course provides critics with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's plays and their critical reception. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, critics can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to write insightful and informed reviews and essays about Shakespeare.

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Editor

Editors prepare Shakespeare's plays for publication. This course provides editors with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's language and his editorial history. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, editors can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare Shakespeare's plays for publication in a variety of formats.

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Performer

Performers bring Shakespeare's plays to life on stage and screen. This course provides performers with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's language, emotions, and dramatic techniques. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, performers can gain the skills necessary to effectively portray Shakespeare's characters.

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Researcher

Researchers study Shakespeare's work and its impact on literature and culture. This course provides researchers with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's plays and their critical reception. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, researchers can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct original research on Shakespeare.

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Writer

Writers use Shakespeare's work as inspiration for their own writing. This course provides writers with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's language, characters, and themes. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, writers can gain the skills necessary to write their own successful and engaging works.

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Journalist

Journalists write about Shakespeare's work and its impact on culture. This course provides journalists with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's plays and their critical reception. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, journalists can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to write insightful and informed articles about Shakespeare.

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Educator

Educators teach Shakespeare's work to students of all ages. This course provides educators with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's language, plays, and themes. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, educators can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to teach Shakespeare effectively.

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Student

Students study Shakespeare's work as part of their education. This course provides students with a deep understanding of Shakespeare's language, plays, and themes. By studying Shakespeare's plays in this course, students can gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in their studies.

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