This free course from the University of London explores critical thinking, and the interpretation of texts, through the Shakespeare authorship question. Using doubt about Shakespeare’s authorship as our playground, we will explore the key concept of authorship attribution, while developing skills in literary analysis, interpretation, and argument. Through forensic exploration of key texts, you will learn why Shakespeare’s authorship is questioned, and what evidence is cited on both sides of the debate.
For those of you interested in exploring the works of Shakespeare from a new angle, or just wanting to hone your analytical thinking skills, this course offers an introduction to a fascinating area of interest. Those of you already interested in the Shakespeare authorship question will be encouraged to question your own assumptions in fruitful ways. Whether undertaken as a standalone course, or as preparation for the University of London BA in English, this course will be food for thought.
Introduction to Who Wrote Shakespeare
proposé par
Université de Londres
Goldsmiths, Université de Londres
Université de Londres
Programme du cours : ce que vous apprendrez dans ce cours
Semaine
14 heures pour terminer
Understanding the Question
This week is a practical introduction to the Shakespeare authorship question, covering terms and concepts you will use and outlining the basic arguments for and against William Shakespeare’s authorship of the works attributed to him. You will learn a framework for understanding how a person’s perceptions (including your own) are shaped by pre-existing beliefs and assumptions and learn how this might impact your ability to interpret and assess literary and historical evidence. You will then be introduced to a key theory of the authorship question and to the first practical exercise in close-reading a relevant text.
20 vidéos (Total 166 min), 4 lectures, 5 quiz
20 vidéos
A 1.4 The role of belief in interpretation9 min
A 1.5 Interview with Kris De Meyer Part 110 min
A 1.6 Interview with Kris De Meyer Part 210 min
A 2.1 "Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare"7 min
A 2.2 The "man-shaped hole"9 min
A 2.3 Personal vs Impersonal Testimony9 min
A 2.4 Literary Paper Trails10 min
A 3.1 Shakspere as a broker8 min
A 3.2 The Shakespeare Apocrypha9 min
A 3.3 Was Shakspere a Playbroker?8 min
A 3.4 Thomas Heywood and 'The Author'7 min
A 4.1 Ben Jonson's poem 'On Poet-Ape' - An Introduction4 min
A 4.2 "On Poet-Ape" - Textual Analysis10 min
A 4.3 Shakespeare in the Parnassus Plays9 min
A 5.1 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 15 min
A 5.2 Interview with Alexander Waugh Part 18 min
A 5.3 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 110 min
A 5.4 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 210 min
A 5.5 Module Summary3 min
4 lectures
A 1.2 Terms of Reference10 min
A 2.5 Absence of Evidence10 min
A 3.6 Addendum10 min
A 4.4 Is John Marston a strong contender for Poet-Ape?10 min
5 exercices pour s'entraîner
A 1.3 Starting Point8 min
A 1.7 The effect of belief on interpretation10 min
A 2.6 The main arguments10 min
A 3.5 Broker theory10 min
A 4.5 Analysis of 'On Poet-Ape'10 min
Semaine
24 heures pour terminer
The Man and the Author
In this module we’ll look at questions of identity; chiefly at arguments that attempt to link William Shakspere the man to William Shakespeare the author – or to sever that link. The arguments surrounding “Hand D” in Sir Thomas More claim to establish a firm link between Shakspere and Shakespeare, and Shakespeare’s authorship of the “Hand D” pages is now being presented as fact, so it’s important to understand the evidence, arguments, and reasons for this attribution. You’ll look in detail at the non-Stratfordian argument that Shakespeare authorship doubt was first expressed within only four years after the first “Shakespeare” publication in the works of John Marston and Joseph Hall. You’ll consider some of the key Stratfordian and non-Stratfordian arguments related to William Shakspere’s coat of arms. And lastly, you’ll look critically at an important cornerstone of Shakespeare biography, Robert Greene’s reference to a plagiarising actor, the “upstart Crow”.
22 vidéos (Total 160 min), 2 lectures, 4 quiz
22 vidéos
B 1.2 Hand D - Handwriting Argument8 min
B 1.3 Hand D - Spelling Argument5 min
B 1.4 Hand D - Content Argument6 min
B 1.5 Hand D - Author or Scribe?8 min
B 2.1 A Hidden Author?9 min
B 2.2 Marston and Hall - Labeo Part 111 min
B 2.3 Marston and Hall - Labeo Part 211 min
B 2.4 'Concealed Poets' and 'Our English Terence'7 min
B 2.5 Does Hyphenation Imply Anonymity?5 min
B 3.1 'Not Without Right' - Shakspere's Coat of Arms4 min
B 3.2 Coat of Arms - Insulso Sogliardo9 min
B 3.3 Coat of Arms - The Authorship Argument6 min
B 4.1 The Upstart Crow - Allusion or Illusion?3 min
B 4.2 Was Groats-worth Greene's?4 min
B 4.3 The Upstart Crow as Edward Alleyn8 min
B 4.4 Shake-scene and the 'Tiger's Heart'8 min
B 5.1 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 38 min
B 5.2 Interview with Gregory Thompson Part 18 min
B 5.3 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 26 min
B 5.4 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 38 min
B 5.5 Module Summary3 min
2 lectures
B 1.6 For and Against "Hand D = Shakespeare"30 min
B 4.6 Addendum10 min
4 exercices pour s'entraîner
B 1.7 Shakespeare and 'Hand D'10 min
B 2.6 16th Century Authorship Doubt10 min
B 3.4 Shakspere's Coat of Arms10 min
B 4.5 The Upstart Crow12 min
Semaine
34 heures pour terminer
The Evidence from Stratford-upon-Avon
In the module, you will look more deeply at the connection between Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare, beginning with Shakespeare-related testimony from people who had a provable personal connection to Stratford-upon-Avon and Shakespeare: William Camden, Michael Drayton, Shakespeare's son-in-law, Dr John Hall, and Shakespeare’s daughters. You’ll consider the question of his daughters’ literacy, and whether has any bearing on the authorship question. You’ll look at what are claimed to be local Warwickshire references in the plays, which have been used to support the traditional authorship attribution. And finally, you’ll consider the monument erected to Shakespeare in Stratford’s Holy Trinity Church, arguments that it was altered in the 18th century, and the three texts engraved on that monument and the connected grave.
22 vidéos (Total 152 min), 2 lectures, 4 quiz
22 vidéos
C 1.2 Stratford-upon-Avon, Drayton and Dr Hall9 min
C 1.3 Stratford-upon-Avon's New Vicar8 min
C 1.4 Shakspere's Lodger6 min
C 2.1 Shakspere's Literacy5 min
C 2.2 Shakspere's Daughters' Literacy 17 min
C 2.3 Shakspere's Daughters' Literacy 25 min
C 2.4 Shakespeare's Education9 min
C 3.2 Shakespeare and Stratford - Shrewish places6 min
C 3.3 Shakespeare and Stratford - The Shrew's Induction5 min
C 3.4 Shakespeare and Stratford - Dialect words7 min
C 4.1 The Stratford Monument - Introduction3 min
C 4.2 Stratford and the William Basse Elegy3 min
C 4.3 Was the Stratford Monument Altered?9 min
C 4.4 Analysis of the Monument Poem8 min
C 4.5 Analysis of the Latin Lines8 min
C 5.1 Interview with Alexander Waugh - Part 28 min
C 5.2 Interview with Gregory Thompson Part 27 min
C 5.3 Interview with Gregory Thompson Part 37 min
C 5.4 Interview with Peter Dawkins Part 17 min
C 5.5 Interview with Peter Dawkins Part 25 min
C 5.6 Module Summary2 min
2 lectures
C 2.6 Addendum10 min
C 3.1 Shakespeare and Stratford - Bardolph and Fluellen10 min
4 exercices pour s'entraîner
C 1.5 Stratford Connections10 min
C 2.5 Literacy and Education10 min
C 3.5 Warwickshire references in Shakespeare10 min
C 4.6 The Stratford Monument10 min
Semaine
43 heures pour terminer
The First Folio as Proof of Authorship
In this final module you’ll explore the key text supporting the traditional attribution of Shakespeare’s works: the 1623 First Folio of Shakespeare’s works. You will learn why the First Folio is a critically important text for those interested in the Shakespeare authorship question, and you will study in detail – applying the textual analysis skills you have developed so far - the texts included in its preface..
19 vidéos (Total 117 min), 1 lecture, 4 quiz
19 vidéos
D 1.2 The First Folio Letters4 min
D 1.3 Ben Jonson's Discoveries9 min
D 1.4 The Preface Poets6 min
D 2.1 The Droeshout Portrait - Reception3 min
D 2.2 Was Droeshout the Younger Incompetent?3 min
D 2.3 The Droeshout Portrait from a Non-Stratfordian Perspective6 min
D 2.4 'Look Not on His Picture' - Analysis5 min
D 3.1 The Folio Link to the Stratford-on-Avon2 min
D 3.2 Thy Stratford Monument4 min
D 3.3 Sweet Swan of Avon!7 min
D 4.1 Jonson's Eulogy - Seeliest Ignorance8 min
D 4.2 Jonson's Eulogy - A Monument without A Tomb3 min
D 4.3 Interview with Alexander Waugh Part 37 min
D 5.1 Interview with Alexander Waugh Part 48 min
D 5.2 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 46 min
D 5.3 Interview with Sir Mark Rylance Part 57 min
D 5.4 Interview with Professor William Leahy Part 47 min
D 5.5 Module Summary4 min
1 lecture
D 4.4 Was Ben Jonson accused of 'raping' Shakespeare?10 min
4 exercices pour s'entraîner
D 1.5 The First Folio Preface10 min
D 2.5 The Droeshout Portrait10 min
D 3.4 Stratford-upon-Avon and the First Folio10 min
D 4.5 Ben Jonson and Shakespeare10 min
4.4
46 avisMeilleurs avis
par JQ•Feb 21st 2018
Great Course with many interesting and innovative concepts. Thanks to all the folks who must have worked hard and long to put this course on the internet. Dr Quincy
par JC•Feb 18th 2019
This was an extremely interesting course. I loved that it questioned traditional thinking. I truly believe that more courses like this should exist. Excellent
Enseignant
Ros Barber
DrEnglish and Comparative Literature
À propos de Université de Londres
The University of London is a federal University which includes 18 world leading Colleges. Our distance learning programmes were founded in 1858 and have enriched the lives of thousands of students, delivering high quality University of London degrees wherever our students are across the globe. Our alumni include 7 Nobel Prize winners. Today, we are a global leader in distance and flexible study, offering degree programmes to over 50,000 students in over 180 countries. To find out more about studying for one of our degrees where you are, visit www.london.ac.uk
À propos de Goldsmiths, Université de Londres
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