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EL10501: Shakespeare

[Page last updated: 06 July 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: Skills Centre
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 33%, ES 33%, EX 34%
Assessment Detail:
  • Presentation (CW 33%)
  • Research Essay (ES 33%)
  • Exam (EX 34%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: Having completed this unit students will be able to:
* identify characteristics of Shakespearean comedy
* identify characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy
* identify characteristics of Shakespearean poetry
* make connections between Shakespeare's works and their historical, political, social, philosophical, religious, national, literary, artistic and theatrical contexts
* apply a variety of methods of critical theory to Shakespeare's works
* analyse Shakespeare's use of language
* identify source material for Shakespeare's work
* identify characteristics of Renaissance thought
* discuss Shakespeare's plays as both texts and theatrical performance pieces
* discuss screen adaptations of Shakespeare's work.


Aims: To introduce students to the works of William Shakespeare in their literary and historical contexts.

Skills: Having completed this unit students will be able to:
* introduce individually researched material to other students (F/A)
* apply a variety of methods of critical analysis to texts (F/A)
* effectively deliver seminar presentations and lead discussions (F/A).
* identify and critically evaluate pertinent secondary literature
* research and write an appropriately structured critical essay.

Content: Three works of Shakespeare will be studied:
* a comedy (Much Ado About Nothing),
* a tragedy / history (Richard III),
* the sonnets (selected).

Programme availability:

EL10501 is Optional on the following programmes:

Academic Skills Centre

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.