ENG 255 - Studies in the Renaissance

In this seminar we will examine a selection of plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries within the historical and cultural context of early modern England. The playhouses of this period were vibrant spaces of entertainment, education, and controversy, where hot topics and concerns of the day were explored through the action onstage. As many as 3,000 people - from nearly every social class - would pack the Globe, the Curtain, and other Bankside theatres on a daily basis; the plays we will read this semester contain as broad a range of characters as did their original audiences. By engaging with a variety of dramatic genres (domestic tragedy, tales of revenge, city comedies, social satire, and more!), we will gain insights into early modern England while exploring issues that continue to pre-occupy us today: economic and class conditions; power; justice; moral and political corruption; anxieties about gender roles, expectations, and identity; family relationships; and of course the importance of having a good time.

For English majors, this course satisfies the D-1 requirement. For English minors, this course counts as a 200-level English seminar. This course can be repeated with a different topic.

 

Prerequisites: Prerequisites: One 100-level English literature course (ENG 100-199) or permission of instructor

Anticipated Terms Offered: Periodically