New and Updated Course Descriptions

ENG 218 - Introduction to Shakespeare

3 Credits

Reading, discussion, and written analysis of several major plays and some of the sonnets. The course explores Shakespeare’s challenging language and the memorably rendered characters that populate his works, including kings, queens, lovers, shrews and fools. Themes such as power, revenge, love, jealousy, ambition and betrayal will be discussed. Critical approaches including psychological, feminist, and historical theories may be presented and applied to the texts.

Prerequisite(s): English 101 with a C or better, or placement into English 200, or instructor permission.

New SUNY General Education:
SUNY - Critical Thinking and Reasoning Competency
SUNY - Humanities

MCC General Education: MCC-AH - Arts and Humanities (MAH)

Course Learning Outcomes
1.Interpret Shakespeare's works in the context of the Elizabethan/Jacobean period.
2.Analyze the works of Shakespeare.
3.Explain the conventions of Shakespearean Comedies.
4.Explain the conventions of Shakespearean Tragedies.
5.Explain the conventions of the Shakespearean History Plays.
6.Explain the conventions of the Shakespearean Sonnets.
7.Interpret Shakespeare’s works using critical perspectives.
8.Write a thesis-driven essay using primary and secondary sources.
9.Apply the appropriate formal conventions when writing about literature.

Course Offered Fall, Spring