ENG 519 - Shakespeare’s Development

The course examines the poetic and dramatic writings of William Shakespeare. The course studies Shakespeare’s development as a writer who explores new possibilities for his poetry and his plays while altering, amplifying, or discarding old strategies. We examine the full range of Shakespeare’s writing: (1) from his somewhat early work in the sonnets and narrative poems along with his early experiments in the comedies to his more mature developments in the history plays and festive comedies, (2) from his first attempts at tragedy to the breakdown of comic form in the problem plays, and (3) from his exclusive attention upon tragedy to his almost exclusive work in the later romances. Our readings will be selected from each phase and genre.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Offered: Irregular
Credit: 3