In Shakespeare: Inspiration and Influence, we will explore ancient battlefields and medieval kingdoms in plays like Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet, and Macbeth.  Reading primary texts such as Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde, the Danish history Gesta Danorum, and The Holinshed Chronicles, we will consider how legend and history inspired Shakespeare’s dramas.  But we will also examine Shakespeare's lasting impact on literature, film, and other media through works such as West Side Story, a musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet; the film Ten Things I Hate About You, a high school reimagining of The Taming of the Shrew; and Hamnet, a historical novel that speculates about Shakespeare’s life. Together, we will read literary criticism that analyzes the Bard's interpretations, adaptations, and the social implications of his works. Course requirements are assigned readings, class discussions, a presentation, and writing assignments, which include weekly journal entries, three short essays, an annotated bibliography, and an in-class midterm.

Learning Objectives:

• Interpret texts from a variety of genres and historical periods, considering their semantic, syntactic, thematic, iterative, generic, and adversarial (e.g., historical, cultural, or theoretical) contexts.

• Locate, evaluate, paraphrase, and reflect on critical sources.

• Synthesize research and interpretive writing.