32 episodes

Each lecture in this series focuses on a single play by Shakespeare, and employs a range of different approaches to try to understand a central critical question about it. Rather than providing overarching readings or interpretations, the series aims to show the variety of different ways we might understand Shakespeare, the kinds of evidence that might be used to strengthen our critical analysis, and, above all, the enjoyable and unavoidable fact that Shakespeare's plays tend to generate our questions rather than answer them.

Approaching Shakespeare Oxford University

    • Education
    • 4.5 • 295 Ratings

Each lecture in this series focuses on a single play by Shakespeare, and employs a range of different approaches to try to understand a central critical question about it. Rather than providing overarching readings or interpretations, the series aims to show the variety of different ways we might understand Shakespeare, the kinds of evidence that might be used to strengthen our critical analysis, and, above all, the enjoyable and unavoidable fact that Shakespeare's plays tend to generate our questions rather than answer them.

    Love's Labour's Lost

    Love's Labour's Lost

    Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Love's Labour's Lost. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

    • 48 min
    The Two Gentlemen of Verona

    The Two Gentlemen of Verona

    Professor Emma Smith gives the last of her 2017 Shakespeare lectures on his early comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

    • 44 min
    Henry VI, Part 2

    Henry VI, Part 2

    Professor Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a 2017 lecture on the early history play, Henry VI, Part 2. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

    • 47 min
    The Merry Wives of Windsor

    The Merry Wives of Windsor

    Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

    • 48 min
    All's Well That Ends Well

    All's Well That Ends Well

    Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s comedy All's Well That Ends Well. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

    • 48 min
    Cymbeline

    Cymbeline

    Professor Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on one of Shakespeare’s later plays, Cymbeline. Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/

    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
295 Ratings

295 Ratings

Crowbar Man ,

Outstanding

The audio can be improved in some parts. Otherwise the professor is wonderful in her presentation and context of the lectures. You need not have read the plays and yet the lectures compel you to read the plays rather than spoil the experience.

Bunbury I'm Earnest ,

Shakespeare’s Plays Explained

Emma Smith presents facts and interpretation about the the plays and their contexts in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner. She is not an egomaniac as are so many scholars. I love her voice and calm delivery.

kc-oo ,

More!

Would love more episodes or recommendations for similar lecture courses on WS

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