English Literature
English Literature

In this nineteen-part course, Professor John McRae (University of Nottingham) explores Shakespeare’s Macbeth. We begin with a broad introduction to historical, political ...
19 lectures
3:07:34
Prof. John McRae
Nottingham University
English Literature

In this twenty-one part course, Professor John McRae (University of Nottingham) explores Shakespeare’s Othello. We begin with a broad introduction to the historical, political and intellectual context of early 17th-century England, before going...
21 lectures
3:30:20
Prof. John McRae
Nottingham University
English Literature

This course focuses on Macbeth, looking in particular at several key aspects of the play. In the first module, we focus on the appeal of the play, both when it was first peformed in the early 17th century, and for...
5 lectures
0:56:26
Mr Stephen Siddall
Independent Scholar
English Literature

In this fifteen-part course, Professor John McRae (University of Nottingham) explores Shakespeare’s Hamlet, focusing in particular on Hamlet’s development from “a rogue and peasant slave” to the perfect (“most royal”) king. We begin in the first...
15 lectures
1:55:09
Prof. John McRae
Nottingham University
English Literature

In this course, we explore several aspects of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. We begin by thinking about the play’s status as a comedy, before looking at a number of aspects of the play and its performance. In particular, we explore the...
6 lectures
1:00:42
Dr Sophie Duncan
University of Oxford
English Literature

In this course, Professor Lisa Hopkins (Sheffield Hallam University) explores six aspects of the critical reception of Shakespeare's Othello. In the first module, we think about the critical reception of the handkerchief, beginning with Thomas ...
6 lectures
0:57:40
Prof. Lisa Hopkins
Sheffield Hallam University
English Literature

In this course, Dr John Lennard explores Shakespeare's Hamlet. In the first module, we explore the idea of Hamlet as a revenge tragedy, and think about how Shakespeare has complicated the basic structure. In the second module, we consider the...
5 lectures
0:53:30
Prof. John Lennard
Independent Scholar
English Literature

In this course, Professor John Roe (University of York) explores Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. We begin in the first module by thinking about the history of the story of Romeo and Juliet and the sources that Shakespeare may have used when ...
8 lectures
1:41:31
Prof. John Roe
York University
English Literature

In this twenty-five part course, Professor John McRae (University of Nottingham) explores Shakespeare’s King Lear. We begin with a broad introduction to the historical, political and intellectual context of early 17th-century England. After that, ...
25 lectures
3:11:30
Prof. John McRae
Nottingham University
English Literature

In this course, Dr Charles Moseley (Cambridge) explores Shakespeare's last play, 'The Tempest'. The first modules concentrate on historical context, looking in particular at the influence of the accession of King James to the throne, and the...
8 lectures
0:57:02
Dr Charles Moseley
University of Cambridge
English Literature

In this course, Professor Lisa Hopkins (Sheffield Hallam University) discusses John Webster’s play The Duchess of Malfi. We begin by thinking about Gothic motifs in the play, focusing in particular on instances of double-ness or twinning. In ...
5 lectures
0:48:30
Prof. Lisa Hopkins
Sheffield Hallam University
English Literature

In this course, Professor John Lennard explores John Webster’s masterpiece, the Duchess of Malfi. The course begins by thinking about John Webster himself, about whom we know very little, and the historical context for the play itself. After that,...
5 lectures
0:51:25
Prof. John Lennard
Independent Scholar
English Literature

In this course, we explore several aspects of Shakespeare’s Othello, thinking in particular about the play in performance. In the first module, we explore the concept of racism in the play, before moving on in the following three modules to...
5 lectures
0:41:42
Prof. John Lennard
Independent Scholar
English Literature

In this course, Professor Helen Smith (University of York) explores Shakespeare’s Othello. In the first module, we provide a broad introduction to the play and some of its key themes. In the second module, we think about the theme of race and...
5 lectures
0:53:00
Prof. Helen Smith
York University