Unit information: Shakespearean Tragedy: Textual and Literary Criticism in 2014/15

Unit name	Shakespearean Tragedy: Textual and Literary Criticism
Unit code	ENGL39027
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Publicover
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of English
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The course focuses on the main four tragedies - Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth - and on the interpretative and textual challenges which these plays pose. It addresses the usefulness of the notion of tragedy in thinking of these plays and explores creative rewritings of and responses to Shakespeare's plays.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will have learned to discuss and to write lucidly about some of the most complex texts in the English language, and about tragedy, one of the most complex critical terms in literary criticism.

Teaching Information

1 x 2 hour seminar per week, plus one-to-one discussion in consultation hours where desired.

Assessment Information

• 1 short essay (2000 words max) one-third of unit mark 33.3%

• 1 long essay (4000 words max) two-thirds of unit mark 66.7%

Reading and References

• William Shakespeare, Hamlet

• William Shakespeare, Othello

• William Shakespeare, King Lear

• William Shakespeare, Macbeth