DRAMA-II SHAKESPEARE (ENG-325)

This course aims at introducing Shakespearean drama. Any two of his most celebrated four
tragedies, one pure romantic comedy, and a drama of his mature age is an adequately fair
selection of Shakespeare’s works. His history plays are not generally anthologized except for
the Henry plays wherein the great Sir John Falstaff appears. His poems ought to have a
separate Course. A comedy or any drama for that matter, may be replaced by another one
keeping its suitability and the scope of the course in view. Shakespeare, of course, is such a
comprehensive artist who compels readers to read all of his works and resists selections. But
such voluminous poet and dramatist would demand four to five courses for extensive reading
which cannot be part of our BS English program. Hence the given list of plays is considered
as proper selection for this course.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

i. Identify the elements of drama, such as form and scenic contrast, symbol and myth, theme and message, language and dialogue, staging and performance, character and conflict.

ii. Articulate their understanding of the relationship between literature and the historical/cultural contexts in which it was written.

Course Contents
Tragedies
1. Hamlet
2. King Lear
Comedies
1. Merchant of Venice
2. The Tempest

SUGGESTED READINGS

Blake (1983). Shakespeare’s Language. McMillan
Bradley, A. C. (1955). Shakespearian Tragedy. Meridian.
Charney (1971). How to Study Shakespeare. McGraw_hill
Hussey (1984). The Literary Language of Shakespeare. Longman
Jump. J. (1991). Shakespeare Hamlet: The Casebook Series McMillan
Muire 9 ed. (1965). Shakespeare: The Comedies. Prentice-Hall
Righter (1962). Shakespeare and the Idea of the Play. Chatoo and Windus
Wilson (1967). What Happens in Hamlet. CUP
Wilson, J. (1962). Shakespeare’s Happy Comedies. Faber and Faber

Timings (Fall 2020)

BS V(R) wed-friday 8-9 am

BS (S.S) wed-friday 11-12pm

Assesment