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.
Latest episodes
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48 min
Love's Labour's Lost
Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Love's Labour's Lost.
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45 min
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Professor Emma Smith gives the last of her 2017 Shakespeare lectures on his early comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona.
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45 min ↗
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Professor Emma Smith gives the last of her 2017 Shakespeare lectures on his early comedy, Two Gentlemen of Verona.
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48 min ↗
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.
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48 min
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.
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48 min ↗
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor.
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48 min
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor.
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48 min ↗
All's Well That Ends Well
Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s comedy All's Well That Ends Well.
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48 min
All's Well That Ends Well
Professor Emma Smith lectures on Shakespeare’s comedy All's Well That Ends Well.
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50 min ↗
Cymbeline
Professor Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on one of Shakespeare’s later plays, Cymbeline.
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50 min
Cymbeline
Professor Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on one of Shakespeare’s later plays, Cymbeline.
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55 min ↗
Timon of Athens
Emma Smith finishes her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Timon of Athens.
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55 min
Timon of Athens
Emma Smith finishes her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Timon of Athens.
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48 min ↗
Love's Labour's Lost
Emma Smith continues her Approaching Shakespeare series with a lecture on the play Love's Labour's Lost.
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50 min ↗
Julius Caesar
This lecture on Julius Caesar discusses structure, tone, and politics by focusing on the cameo scene with Cinna the Poet.
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50 min
Julius Caesar
This lecture on Julius Caesar discusses structure, tone, and politics by focusing on the cameo scene with Cinna the Poet.
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44 min ↗
Romeo and Juliet
This lecture on Romeo and Juliet tackles the issue of the spoiler-chorus, in an already-too-familiar play. This podcast is suitable for school and college students.
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44 min
Romeo and Juliet
This lecture on Romeo and Juliet tackles the issue of the spoiler-chorus, in an already-too-familiar play. This podcast is suitable for school and college students.
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44 min ↗
Romeo and Juliet
This lecture on Romeo and Juliet tackles the issue of the spoiler-chorus, in an already-too-familiar play. This podcast is suitable for school and college students.
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53 min ↗
Coriolanus
This lecture takes up a detail from Shakespeare’s late Roman tragedy Coriolanus to ask about the representation of character, the use of sources and the genre of tragedy. This podc…