Shakespeare and Antiquity 03-AP-SA

Course learning content:
- general remarks on English Renaissance,
- Shakespeare and his theatre,
- Hamlet as influences by Aeschvus and Seneca,
- Shakespeare' cruelty on the background of ancient tradition,
- role of the world in "Othello" and in Senecan "Phaedra",
- "Midsummer Dream" as a play of myths,
- English Julius Caesar versus ancient tradition,
- Livy and Shakespeare in the legend of Lucretia,
- the future in the viev of Shakespeare as compared with Stoic opinions,
- Shakespeare meets Ovid in "Titus Andronicus",
- Shakespearean revenge and Senecan example,
- "Macbeth" by Nesbo as an example of Shakesperean after-life.

Module learning aims

Course aims: - gaining the good knowledge of the influence of ancient literature on Shakespeare, - understanding the role of various ancient topoi and motifs in Renaissance, - knowing the connection between ancient writings (Livy, Plutarch, Seneca, Virgil and Ovid) and Shakespeare, - skill of a critical reading Shakespearean tragedies at the background of ancient tradition.

Methods of teaching for learning outcomes achievement

Lecture with a multimedia presentation, interactive lecture, problem-based lecture, discussions, text-based work, group work.

Student workload (ECTS credits)

Module type

elective

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences

Quite adequate knowledge of English.

Course coordinators

Elżbieta Wesołowska

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
- aestimate the progress in culture during Renaissance especially in England,
- know and discuss the problems connected with the role of ancient tradition in this period,
- connect the select moral and historical problems in Shakespeare and the ancient background,
- describe and critically enumerate various topoi and motifs in Shakespearean drama and the ancient exempla,
- to discuss an influence of ancient writers (Plutarch, Livy, Seneca, Vergil and Ovid) on Shakespeare,
- to discuss the importance of ancient tradition within nowadays culture,
- structure of Shakespearean heroes in the light of their Greek or Latin prototypes,
- deliver his/her presentation dealing with a problem of influence of antiquity upon Shakespeare.

Assessment criteria

Grade system:

very good (bdb; 5,0): fluent and wide knowledge of the myth in Shakespearean drama. Skill of critical analysing the various levels of the influencing Shakespeare by ancient tradition.

good plus (+db; 4,5): fluent and wide knowledge of the myth in Shakespearean drama with a little lacks and errors. Skill of critical analysing the various levels of the influencing Shakespeare by ancient tradition.

good (db; 4,0): good knowledge of the myth in Shakespearean drama with some lacks. Quite adequate skill of critical analysing the various levels of the influencing Shakespeare by ancient tradition.

satisfactory plus (+dst; 3,5): rather good knowledge (with some minor errors) of the myth in Shakespearean drama. Satisfactory skill of critical analysing the various levels of the influencing Shakespeare by ancient tradition.

satisfactory (dst; 3,0): satisfactory knowledge of the myth in Shakespearean drama. Satisfactory skill of critical analysing the various levels of the influencing Shakespeare by ancient tradition.

unsatisfactory (ndst; 2,0): poor and with many serious errors knowledge of the myth in Shakespearean drama. Unsatisfactory skill of critical analysing the various levels of the influencing Shakespeare by ancient tradition.

Bibliography

Reading list will be delivered by a teacher during the first meeting.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 03-AP-SA in USOSweb