A study of the language and diction used by Shakespeare, including his use of metaphor, symbolism, and word play, as well as his influence on the English language and literature.
Elizabethan England and its society: Understanding the cultural and social context within which Shakespeare wrote and performed his plays.
The Globe Theatre: The iconic theater where many of Shakespeare's plays were performed, its design, and role in the performance of the plays.
Blank Verse: The type of verse that Shakespeare employs in his plays, the form and structure of the verse, and its importance in Shakespearean drama.
Sonnets: The type of poem that Shakespeare wrote extensively, their structure, themes, and their place in Shakespeare's oeuvre.
Language and Vocabulary: The use of archaic language, idioms, puns, and other rhetorical devices in Shakespeare's plays.
Characterization: The ways in which Shakespeare creates and develops characters within his plays.
Themes: The recurring ideas and concepts that Shakespeare explores in his work, including love, tragedy, power, and identity.
Historical and Political Context: The use of historical events and figures in Shakespeare's plays, including Julius Caesar, Henry V, and Richard III.
Adaptations and Interpretations: The various ways in which Shakespeare's plays have been adapted, translated, and reinterpreted over time.
Acting Techniques: Understanding the techniques and styles of acting that were prevalent during Shakespeare's time and how they influenced the performance of his plays.
Soliloquy: This is a speech given by a character in a play or monologue where they express their innermost thoughts and feelings.
Monologue: A long and uninterrupted speech delivered by one character in front of other characters present in the play.
Aside: A brief comment or remark made by a character, which is not heard or acknowledged by other actors present in the play.
Dialogue: A conversation between two or more characters in a play.
Prose: Ordinary language (non-rhyming and non-metrical) used in a play.
Iambic Pentameter: The commonly used meter in Shakespearean plays. Each line has ten syllables, with a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.
Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter.
Rhymed Verse: The use of rhyming words at the end of each line in a play.
Double-entendre: A figure of speech where a particular word or phrase has a double meaning, used to create a humorous effect, and sometimes with a sexual connotation.
Foreshadowing: Hints, clues, or indications of future events in a play.
Imagery: The use of vivid, descriptive language that portrays a sensory experience of a place, person, thing, or idea in a play.
Metaphor: A figure of speech where a direct comparison is made between two unlike things or ideas.
Simile: A figure of speech using like or as to compare two things.
Personification: A figure of speech where non-living objects or animals are given human-like qualities or characteristics.
Irony: The use of a word or phrase to mean the opposite of its literal or expected meaning.
Symbolism: The use of an object, word, or idea to represent something else beyond its literal meaning.
Allusion: A reference to a known historical, literary, or mythological figure, event, or place.
Pun: A play on words based on different meanings of a word or words with similar sounds.
Comedy: A humorous play or scene with happy endings, which is a significant part of Shakespeare's dramatic works.
Tragedy: A play with a serious and unhappy ending where the protagonist suffers from a series of tragic events.