This course will provide a graduate-level introduction to the study of Shakespeare. We will consider a selection of his plays in their broader social, cultural, and literary context, exploring them within these networks of meaning to a arrive at a more comprehensive understanding of his work. No previous study of Shakespeare is required for the seminar.

This course is a research seminar, and one of its goals is to help you practice and hone the skills of scholarly work, including:

1. Using reference works important to the field.

2. Creating bibliographies of relevant materials.

3. Using MLA citation style.

4. Planning, structuring, and carrying out a research project.

More generally, you should expect that in this seminar we will work on: 

1. Producing clear and consistent critical writing for a scholarly audience.

2. Using collaborative work to achieve course outcomes.

3. Exploring our texts and ideas through discussion and oral presentations.