Shakespeare's King Lear

This course will offer an in-depth reading and discussion of Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of King Lear. The play will offer a setting for discussion surrounding the nature of Shakespearean tragedy, the art of rhetorical poetics, monarchical politics, and family ethics. Students will use King Lear 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 King Lear
2. Hone their close-reading skills
3. Be able to identify and apply the truths of King Lear to their own lives
4. Be able to apply the microcosm of the play to the macrocosms of familial life and modern day politics
5. Create a logically sound, beautifully structured academic essay

Texts:

• The Tragedy of King Lear: Ignatius Critical Edition (specific edition required)
• The Office of Assertion by Scott F. Crider