This course examines Shakespeare's history plays and those of his contemporaries - including Fletcher, Ford, Marlowe, and Munday. The plays will be studied alongside recent critical and theoretical readings of the genre.

1 x 2hr seminar per week over ten weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Literature and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

ENGLIT4019 Playing with History: Shakespeare and his Contemporaries

The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Essay (2000 words): 35% 

■ Essay (3000 words): 50% 

■ Seminar presentation of 7 minutes: 15% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the Essay (2000 words), but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the Essay (3000 words), but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ Recorded presentation or One-to-one presentation / discussion/Q&A with staff (where presentation would normally be in class) as alternative to presentation.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ study a range of plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries  

■ consider these texts in the light of dramatic approaches to history 

■ understand the relationship between early modern drama and history

■ develop independent research skills through formulating and researching essay topics with appropriate guidance

■ develop skills in the art of critical writing at the appropriate level.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ write an assessment of available critical and theoretical approaches to the early modern history play, and identify the approaches that they find most convincing 

■ critically assess the language and themes of the literature of the early modern history play 

■ develop an autonomous research interest in the field of the early modern history play 

■ communicate responses to the material studied on the course both orally and in written form through coherent and sustained argument.

■ demonstrate resilience and time management through effectively planning, undertaking and submitting coursework.

■ deal with change and new challenges by applying their disciplinary skills and knowledge to previously unfamiliar research areas and questions.