Introduction to Shakespeare

Introduction to Shakespeare

English 2300

Introduction to Shakespeare was a wonderful sampling of Shakespeare's works. I loved this class and the in depth readings we did of Othello, Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, Taming of the Shrew and a variety of the sonnets. The professor for this course believed strongly that the plays were meant to be first watched and then read. We therefore watched a live or cinematic version of each play as we studied the texts. This combined study greatly broadened my understanding of each play's themes and overall meanings. I so much enjoyed this class that I have since considered adding an emphasis in Shakespeare for my Bachelors in English degree.

My signature assignment for this course is my final project. We were asked to choose a play that we did not study as a class and analyse its themes and social importance. My selection was Much Ado About Nothing. I analyized to what extend the title reveals everything in the play and how language in the play enforces this double-meaning.