Shakespeare: Modes and Genres

Description

Since the appearance of the First Folio in 1623 - with its divisions of the plays into comedies, tragedies, and histories - a discussion of genre has been central to critical debates about Shakespeare, and it remains an influential approach to an understanding of his work. The course will question the usefulness of these generic classifications, and ask to what extent an awareness of the specific conventions of genre can help to explain the structure of a play and the actions of its protagonists. At the same time, the course will examine the fluidity of generic boundaries, and the originality of Shakespeare's exploitation of them. Assessment Information: Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%