ONLINE: William Shakespeare is often regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Many readers first encountered his plays in school; this course offers a chance to revisit them with a fresh perspective and deeper insight. We will study three of Shakespeare's most powerful tragedies—"Romeo and Juliet," "Othello," and "Hamlet"—each rich in language, character, and theme. The plays explore love and loss, jealousy and betrayal, and revenge and moral uncertainty. We will spend three weeks each on "Romeo and Juliet" and "Othello," and four weeks on the more complex "Hamlet." Participants will read selected passages aloud and engage in thoughtful discussions, covering two to three acts per week. This is a facilitated discussion course rather than a lecture course, designed to encourage shared interpretation and a deeper appreciation of Shakespeare’s work. | Facilitated discussion.
Max enrollment: 15.
Harry Brown holds degrees in English from Davidson College, Appalachian State University, and Ohio University. After teaching for 43 years at Eastern Kentucky University, he returned to North Carolina and has taught/co-taught 17 literature courses for OLLI. He has published six poetry collections and co-edited an anthology of Kentucky writing.