Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure

This course will offer an in-depth reading and discussion of Shakespeare’s problem play, Measure for Measure. The play will offer a setting for discussion surrounding the nature of Shakespearean problem plays, the art of rhetoric, the ethics of leadership, and the implications of Shakespeare’s work on our everyday lives. Students will use Measure for Measure as a backdrop for writing a classically oriented academic essay.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, learners will:

1. Identify and understand the plot elements that comprise Measure for Measure
2. Hone their close-reading skills
3. Be able to identify and apply the truths of Measure for Measure to their own lives
4. Practice the assessment and judgement of a classical text and the actions of its characters
5. Create a logically sound, beautifully structured academic essay

Texts:

• Measure for Measure
• The Office of Assertion by Scott F. Crider