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Overview

A study of Shakespeare as playwright and poet, with some attention given to the theatrical and cinematic reception of the plays.

After 400 years, Shakespeare's plays continue to provoke and engage audiences and readers.

Shakespeare was both a poet and a man of the theatre. His plays were performed before both royalty and commoners and constituted one of the earliest forms of mass entertainment. In this paper we will explore the nature of the theatrical world in which he wrote, his stagecraft, and his use of language, particularly the way that Shakespeare used language to motivate performance and action. We will also examine how Shakespeare's language has been adapted to the cinema through a study of significant filmic adaptations of his work.

About this paper

Paper title Shakespeare: Stage, Page and Screen
Subject English
EFTS 0.15
Points 18 points
Teaching period(s) Semester 1 (On campus)
Semester 1 (Distance learning)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,103.10
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
One 100-level ENGL paper (excluding ENGL 126) or 36 points
Schedule C
Arts and Music
Contact

michael.cop@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Dr Michael Cop

Teaching Arrangements

Twice-weekly lectures; play-readings; tutorials; screenings.

Textbooks

Plays that we will cover in full or in part (please note that these texts are available for free electronically though www.folger.edu):

  • Midsummer Night's Dream
  • The Tempest
  • Richard III
  • Macbeth
  • Antony and Cleopatra
  • Twelfth Night

Please note that we will also watch filmic adaptations or theatrical productions of these plays.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:

  • Understanding of staging history of Shakespeare
  • Understanding of the cinematic history of Shakespearean adaptation
  • Knowledge of analytic tools to read Shakespeare, including embedded stage instructions, cultural history and close reading

Overview

A study of Shakespeare as playwright and poet, with some attention given to the theatrical and cinematic reception of the plays.

After 400 years, Shakespeare's plays continue to provoke and engage audiences and readers.

Shakespeare was both a poet and a man of the theatre. His plays were performed before both royalty and commoners and constituted one of the earliest forms of mass entertainment. In this paper, we will explore the nature of the theatrical world in which he wrote, his stagecraft and his use of language, particularly the way that Shakespeare used language to motivate performance and action. We will also examine how Shakespeare's language has been adapted to the cinema through a study of significant filmic adaptations of his work.

About this paper

Paper title Shakespeare: Stage, Page and Screen
Subject English
EFTS 0.15
Points 18 points
Teaching period Not offered in 2027 (Distance learning)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
One 100-level ENGL paper (excluding ENGL 126) or 36 points
Schedule C
Arts and Music
Contact

michael.cop@otago.ac.nz

Teaching staff

Dr Michael Cop

Teaching Arrangements

Twice-weekly lectures; play-readings; tutorials; screenings.

Textbooks

Plays that we will cover in full or in part (please note that these texts are available for free electronically though Folger Shakespeare Library):

  • Midsummer Night's Dream
  • The Tempest
  • Richard III
  • Macbeth
  • Antony and Cleopatra
  • Twelfth Night

Please note that we will also watch filmic adaptations or theatrical productions of these plays.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised
Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this paper will gain:

  • Understanding of staging history of Shakespeare
  • Understanding of the cinematic history of Shakespearean adaptation
  • Knowledge of analytic tools to read Shakespeare, including embedded stage instructions, cultural history and close reading
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