EN2M9/EN3M9: Single-Author Study: The Deep Dive
Shakespeare's History Cycles
This is a 15 CAT open module, the topic of which will change annually depending on the convenor.
The topic for 2025/26 is Shakespeare's History Plays and takes place in term 2 only.
This module can be paired with E2M8/3M8 The Deep Dive: Single-Text Study - Hamlet (taught by Dr Ursula Clayton in Term 1) to make a coherent (but unofficial) 30 CATS two-term option, but there is no requirement to take both.
Overview
In 2025/6 this module would examine Shakespeare's cycles of History Plays, from Richard II through to Richard III, with an emphasis on their collective and sequential nature and the ways in which this has affected their performance histories. Students will look at the plays in context of their writing, as well as of their setting, and their performance histories both as individual productions and when staged as part of a season or filmed as a series.
Teaching
Term 2 Only
1.5 hour weekly seminars
Assessment
Intermediate Year students:
- Commonplace Book
- 1 x 3000 word essay OR Creative Project
Final Year students:
- Commonplace Book
- 1 x 3500 word essay OR Creative Project
Syllabus
Week 1 - Richard II
Week 2 - Henry IV Part 1
Week 3 - Henry IV Part 2
Week 4 - Henry V
Week 5 - Henry VI Part 1
Week 7 - Henry VI Part 2
Week 8 - Henry VI Part 3
Week 9 - Richard III
Week 10 - Archival Research Methods/Overview
Convenor:
Dr Julian Richards
Moodle not in use
Contact Details:
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