Shakespeare after 1600

In this course we will explore plays written in the second half of Shakespeare's career. We will emphasize Shakespeare's great tragedies-works that retain their ability to astound readers and audiences today-but we'll also explore his later comedies, problem plays, and tragicomic final works. We will collaborate to appreciate the sounds and meaning of Shakespeare's language, to think about the ways he structures plots and creates vivid characters, to understand the cultural milieu in which his plays were written, to make thematic connections across the plays, and to appreciate the plays as both literature and in performance. Shakespearean drama can be challenging to study, but the rewards are lifelong: revelry in language, a strong grounding in theatrical traditions that remain dominant in our culture, a deeper understanding of the actions and values that motivate human beings in society, and an engagement with dramatic works that continue to be reimagined worldwide.