FLGR.01.374 Shakespeare’s Italian Plays

Dear students,

The texts below are meant for independent reading, guided by questions for each session. However, as your reading will form the basis of discussion in class, you have to decide which form your answers will take. Some people have made notes during their reading and this is definitely the most efficient way, as the exam questions will be the same as session questions. Some people have preferred their laptops for easy reference. Some rely exclusively on their phones but that can be tricky if the question refers to a large chunk of text you have to sum up meaningfully. I have seen some pretty awkward and desperate fumbling with the phones that betrays the lack of adequate homework.

Although we watch all the plays below in class, it is advisable to read the texts beforehand. This facilitates understanding and enables you better to appreciate the efforts of the directors and actors to make the text come alive. The notes to the text will give you a better understanding of  Shakespeare’s very specific way of creating his jokes and puns.