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English Literature: Exploring Shakespearean Tragedy – University Tutorial With Dr Thomas Roebuck From University of East Anglia
June 6 @ 09:10 - 09:55
In this live interactive English Literature tutorial, we will be joined by Dr Thomas Roebuck, Lecturer in the School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at University of East Anglia, who will lead a session on Exploring Shakespearean Tragedy.
Shakespeare’s tragedies can usually be performed with only a small company of actors. Yet, when we watch the ending of a Shakespeare tragedy, we feel we’re watching something really big unfold – the downfall of a society or even of humanity. How does Shakespeare use the form of the tragedy to achieve this? How do the endings of his tragedies, in particular, create a sense of calamity that resonates beyond the individuals caught up in the story? We’ll take our examples from Hamlet, Othello, Anthony and Cleopatra, and King Lear, and the session should be particularly helpful to anyone studying any of those plays (there’ll be plenty of opportunity to share ideas about the Shakespearean tragedy you’ve studied). We’ll explore issues around tragic plot and structures, heroes and how they fit or don’t fit in their worlds, and justice or injustice.
The full context/introduction to this live and interactive discussion is provided in the Headliner recorded resource below. This recording can be watched as a class activity or independently in preparation for the discussion.
Video timeline:
- 00:00-05:55: Introduction and Critical Framework
- 05:56-09:11: Hamlet
- 09:12-12:40: King Lear
- 12:41-15:27: Antony and Cleopatra
- 15:28-20:48: Othello
- 20:49-22:05: Live session prep and wrap up
The session aims to deepen students’ understanding of the topic whilst enabling them to access and experience a live online university tutorial.
Lecturer Profile: Dr Thomas Roebuck
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom, or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. This means that sessions will continue irrespective of possible school closures.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but access to the Headliner recording will continue to be accessible.
Suitable for: Key Stage 5, and equivalent, students studying or with an interest in studying English Literature and related subjects. Teachers and members of school staff, as always, are welcome too and participants can join as individuals from school/college or home, or as a group from school/college.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students are asked to watch the Headliner recording and consider some of the key issues and any questions raised.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting on to a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the university via a microphone and/or typed comments and questions. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: