Shakespeare: Extreme Sonnets

In this course, we will devote four weeks of intensive study to Shakespeare's 154 sonnets in extreme detail, primarily through a close reading of their poetic language, but also with consideration to questions of historical and biographical context, the sonnet sequence as a genre, problems of interpretation, and theories about their genesis. Extensive in-class reading and discussion of the sonnets will follow nightly critical readings. A significant amount of time will also be spent on the art of recitation. Students will be required to memorize and recite several sonnets over the course of the term in addition to composing one or two original sonnets of their own. This course counts as an ENAM Pre-1800 elective.