Approaching Shakespeare

by Oxford University

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.

Episodes

The Comedy of Errors

46m · Published 23 Jan 15:58

Lecture 12 in the Approaching Shakespeare series asks how seriously we can take the farcical exploits of Comedy of Errors, drawing out the play's serious concerns with identity and selfhood.

Henry IV part 1

50m · Published 16 Nov 17:06

Like generations of theatre-goers, this lecture concentrates on the (large) figure of Sir John Falstaff and investigates his role in Henry IV part 1. Lecture 11 in the Approaching Shakespeare series.

The Tempest

48m · Published 14 Nov 17:15

That the character of Prospero is a Shakespearean self-portrait is a common reading of The Tempest: this tenth Approaching Shakespeare lecture asks whether that is a useful reading of the play.

Antony and Cleopatra

46m · Published 10 Nov 11:17

What kind of tragedy is this play, with its two central figures rather than a singular hero? The ninth lecture in the Approaching Shakespeare series tries to find out.

Richard II

45m · Published 01 Nov 16:00

Lecture eight in the Approaching Shakespeare series asks the question that structures Richard II: does the play suggest Henry Bolingbroke's overthrow of the king was justified?

Twelfth Night

47m · Published 20 Oct 17:46

The seventh Approaching Shakespeare lecture takes a minor character in Twelfth Night - Antonio - and uses his presence to open up questions of sexuality, desire and the nature of romantic comedy.

Titus Andronicus

49m · Published 19 Oct 18:54

Focusing in detail on one particular scene, and on critical responses to it, this sixth Approaching Shakespeare lecture on Titus Andronicus deals with violence, rhetoric, and the nature of dramatic sensationalism.

The Winter's Tale

42m · Published 09 Nov 16:50

How we can make sense of a play that veers from tragedy to comedy and stretches credulity in its conclusion? That's the topic for this fifth Approaching Shakespeare lecture on The Winter's Tale.

Macbeth

46m · Published 02 Nov 12:02

In this fourth Approaching Shakespeare lecture the question is one of agency: who or what makes happen the things that happen in Macbeth?

Measure for Measure

40m · Published 26 Oct 22:00

The third Approaching Shakespeare lecture, on Measure for Measure, focuses on the vexed question of this uncomic comedy's genre.

Approaching Shakespeare has 32 episodes in total of non- explicit content. Total playtime is 24:51:23. The language of the podcast is English. This podcast has been added on July 28th 2022. It might contain more episodes than the ones shown here. It was last updated on June 1st, 2024 06:40.