Teaching

Proseminar “Shakespeare and Constructions of (British) National Identity” (Winter 2023/24)

When asked to list famous British authors, one of the first names that comes to many people’s minds is William Shakespeare. Not only did Shakespeare had a significant impact on the country’s literature and language, but his works also played a crucial role in shaping British/English national identity.   This applies especially to Shakespeare’s history plays, which depict the lives of former British Kings and important historical events. In this seminar, we will take a closer look at two examples, Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry V, in order to investigate the images of Britishness they construct. In our discussion, we will also take the representations of regional identities, e.g. Scottish and Welsh, as well as that of different social classes into consideration. As a basis for our analyses, the seminar will also introduce students to Early modern theatre as well as to key theories and concepts about national identity. Moreover, the seminar will also provide an outlook into the present as we will investigate the ways in which Shakespearean notions of Britishness persist until this day as well as how the Bard is now used as a signifier for Britishness for various purposes.

Aufbauseminar Culture  (Winter 2023/24)

Grundseminar Culture  (Winter 2023/24)