EGL 208 - Renaissance Drama

Course Units: 1.0

In this class we will explore tales of revenge, jealousy, romance, and political intrigue. Reading together a wide range of plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and rivals, we will get to know a cast of characters that includes a man who makes a deal with the devil, a love-struck brother and sister couple, women tormented by jealous husbands, murderers, schemers of all kinds, and even a few typical citizens of London. We will read these plays with close attention to how their meanings were shaped by the conditions of their performance as well as the educational and cultural background of their audience. As we explore authors such as Thomas Kyd, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson,
Elizabeth Cary, and John Ford, we will pay particular attention to the social construction and critique of inequality. Cross-Listed: ATH 258 Prerequisite(s): One 100-level English course or a score of 5 on the AP English Language or Literature and Composition test. CQ: HUL, HUM, WAC