The Tempest by William Shakespeare
This light-hearted but philosophical comedy by William Shakespeare can be considered the playwright’s testament on life and art as it happens to be the last he ever wrote. Like most of Shakespeare’s comedies, it is full of enchantment, with spirits dancing and singing on a utopian island. The magician Prospero, who rules the island, makes all things appear and disappear at will, and, thus, Prospero epitomizes the figure of the artist and may even represent the playwright himself. Also in true Shakespearean fashion, the intricacies of the plot abound with amusing misunderstandings spiced up with farcical interludes and entertain the audience. However, the plot itself is relatively unimportant compared with the deeper reflection on the nature of art and artists. In this course, we shall study the text by the light of two very different interpretations, one of which from the Globe Theater, in order to examine how staging can influence our vision of character and event.
Objectives
To introduce the students to Shakespearean comedy, but also to the different ways of staging a play. Excerpts from two famous adaptations will be shown to the students for comparison.
Each lesson will focus on a specific excerpt from the play. The students will be given questions about the excerpt one week in advance and will be expected to have prepared their answers for the lesson.
Assessment and Final Grade
Two written tests: one midterm, one final exam. Both consist in a few questions regarding a short excerpt from the play.
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Practical information
