This course surveys the breadth of Shakespeare?s work?sonnets, narrative poems, and especially plays. A consideration of the works? publication histories alongside their equally rich performance traditions provides Cadets with a firm grounding in Shakespeare?s dramatic output, an introduction to early-modern print culture, and an understanding of Renaissance literary history. Cadets explore the plays? eventual categorization into different genres (tragedy, comedy, history, romance), performance history, the enduring influence of Shakespeare on audiences throughout the world, and the impact of Shakespeare on American cultural and political history.
