Christian M Sheppard

A detailed, intensive study of a small number of recognized masterworks that have demonstrated their power outside of their own national and historical context. Recent examples: Dante's Divine Comedy, Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.

This course is both a broad introduction to Shakespeare and an opportunity to delve deeply into some of his most enchanting, disturbing, maddening, and comical works. Students should expect a good amount of reading (as well as a good amount of learning how to navigate the challenging aspects of his language and style). We will likely read at least one play from the following major genres (paying the most attention to the last): history, comedy, romance, and tragedy. We will also consider performances and adaptations and spend time on a broad selection of Shakespeare's sonnets. Students will engage in multiple formats of peer discussion, take turns presenting material, and complete regular writing assignments in response to the reading.

Topics in religion and literature offer students the opportunity to explore the boundaries between religion and literature, as well as the points of dynamic contact between these two fields. Courses offered in this topic are concerned with the intersection of religion, in its historical context and its thematic concerns, with literature and related cultural forms and practices. Both the religion and the genre may vary according to the topic, allowing for both broadness of reach and depth of focus in modes of religious and literary expression. Artists/Works/Screening/Reading/Content Area examples to be determined, based on the specific course being offered under this topic, but will include key texts in religious literature, both historically and culturally, as well as key texts from a variety of literary genres and perspectives. This 3000-level Humanities course, including readings, reading responses, essays, mid-terms, and finals.