Renaissance Drama: Shakespeare and his Contemporaries

Module code: EN1050 (double module)

This module will enable you to build on existing knowledge and skills to develop a more independent and broad approach to the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries within their theatrical and cultural context. You will become familiar with different dramatic genres and will be asked to consider questions of genre, class, gender, race and education. You will learn more about how early modern drama developed between the late 1580s and the 1620s. In turn, you will be asked to analyse the plays within their social and political context, taking account of early modern staging methods, theatrical conditions, composition and printing practices. Crucial to this module is the screening of film versions of Renaissance plays, which you will be expected to attend alongside lectures and seminars.