ENH 230: Shakespeare

Welcome!

1. Hello, I am your instructor Rod Freeman and I hope you find this course meaningful. The purpose of this course in the works of William Shakespeare is to provide a foundation for understanding his influence from his time to ours. We will read at least 8 of Shakespeare’s plays in the class and representative sonnets discussing and understanding the times within he wrote, his sources and analogues, his influence, and how the elements of history, theater, and artistry are employed in his works.
Please familiarize yourself with Blackboard prior to the beginning of the class. The primary two texts for the course are:

Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare: Based on the Oxford Edition. Stephen Greenblatt et. al. New York: W.W. Norton, 1997.

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Epstein, Norrie. The Friendly Shakespeare. New York: Penguin, 1994.

By all means begin your readings early! I suggest beginning with the “Shakespeare’s World” pages 2-29.

Coming soon (prior to the first week of class):

1. •Course Syllabus
2. •Reading, discussion other assignments by week
3. •Weekly folders with additional readings, presentations, audio files, discussion board/blogs, and assignments.

ENH 230: Introduces Shakespeare the playwright, the sonneteer, the linguist, and the citizen of the 17th century. Considers the major tragedies, comedies, histories, and sonnets; focuses on the use of language; and connects the writer to the time. Some emphasis on Shakespeare's influence through the centuries, noting parallels between the late 16th century and the late 20th century. Prerequisites: None.