This course introduces students to one of the major playwrights in the history of English literature, William Shakespeare, by covering some of his plays.
His plays will be discussed within the Elizabethan context by examining how they reflect various historical, social, cultural and literary dimensions. The course will begin by an overview of the different conditions in which the plays were written. Then, the works will be analyzed in some detail by focusing on their aesthetic, structural and thematic features. Some references to their place within the overall aesthetic and literary viewpoint in relation to theatre. Furthermore, discussions will be raised regarding the status of the Shakespearean Theatre as it represents not only one distinct mark in the history of theatre, but also acts as a bridge between earlier and subsequent theatrical dramaturgy
