Shakespeare: an introduction
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| 2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| No examination | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This 12-week online course offers a stimulating introduction to Shakespearean drama and the study of literature at university level. It focuses on two of Shakespeare’s most interesting plays: The Taming of the Shrew, a dark comedy about the battle of the sexes; and Romeo and Juliet, one of the most famous tragedies ever written. You will get a good grounding in reading and analysing Shakespeare’s language – studying the plays as printed texts as well as works written for performance. You will consider Shakespeare’s treatment of marriage, family and gender – linking the plays with the society in which they were written.
Course content
Shakespeare: an introduction is suitable both for students who want just a taste of OU study and for those intending to proceed to further study at university level. It is designed to equip you with the skills you will need for other OU literature courses at Levels 1, 2 and 3. You will acquire skills of close reading and analysis and become familiar with some of the main characteristics of comedies and tragedies. You will also learn how to develop a sound critical argument supported by textual evidence and to present that argument in a correctly referenced academic essay. The course will help you to develop valuable study skills such as note taking and time management and give you experience of studying online. Tuition on the course is also conducted online, which will give you the opportunity to exchange views and ideas on the plays not only with your tutor, but also with the other students in your tutorial group.
The course is divided into three blocks. It begins with an introduction to reading Shakespeare, which is designed to help students with Shakespeare's language, to develop skills of close reading and to consider plays not only as texts to be read but also as works written to be performed.
The course then moves on to the study of a Shakespearean comedy, The Taming of the Shrew, one of the most controversial plays Shakespeare ever wrote. The course teaching material looks at the lively critical debate that has surrounded the play and asks whether we should see The Shrew as little more than a crude endorsement of male dominance or defend it as a complex work that is more sympathetic to women than might at first appear. You will examine the play’s treatment of shrew-taming in relation to its genre and structure and in the context of sixteenth-century ideas about women and marriage. The course material includes a DVD performance of the play, which will help you to consider to what extent the play’s meaning depends on how it is translated from the page to the stage or screen.
The final section of the course looks in detail at the Shakespearean tragedy Romeo and Juliet. You will analyse the play as a tragedy, examining Shakespeare’s portrayal of his young lovers and the world they live in. You will consider in particular the role of the feud in the play’s tragic events. The teaching material gives close consideration to the play’s social and cultural contexts, its language and style, its treatment of gender issues and the play in performance.
The course material consists of:
- the two set plays, each with a substantial critical introduction
- Sean McEvoy’s book Shakespeare: The Basics, which provides a good general introduction to studying Shakespeare
- a Study Guide
- a DVD performance of The Taming of the Shrew
- a DVD performance of Romeo and Juliet.
These materials will provide you with interpretations of the plays and examples of how to analyse and discuss specific passages and themes. They will help prepare you for the written work you will undertake on the course.
For further information on this course visit the A177 website.
Qualifications
A177 is a optional course in our
- BA (Honours) Humanities (B03)
- BA/BSc (Honours) European Studies (B10)
- Certificate of Higher Education in Humanities (C98)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is suitable for a BA. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation, foreign language or illustrative materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. The printed course materials are available on audio in DAISY Digital Talking Book format or in comb-bound format. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
A performance of one of the set plays on DVD forms an important part of the course; however, students who are unable to watch or engage with all elements of the DVD due to their disability will still be able to meet the learning outcomes of the course.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting your needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, DVDs, online forum.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have an online tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance, either through email or the online forum. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and late October 2010, and February 2011. We expect it to be available three times a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Arts and Humanities.
Study explained
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Student Reviews
A throughly enjoyable short course and a great introduction (or refresher) to Shakespeare. Certainly helped me to make up my ...
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I would thoroughly recommend this short course to those new to OU study. The course provides very useful tips on ...
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