Start Date
1 February, 2024
There will be 5 weekly meetings on Thursday, 2 - 4pm, starting from 1 February.
Overview
This course examines the exquisite poems of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets, published in 1609. These pieces present a unique challenge due to their linguistically intricate and puzzling nature. The sonnets explore the complexities of young, homoerotic love and the subsequent fading of affection, creating a rich tapestry of themes.
In this short course, you will have the opportunity to study a variety of sonnets that touch on topics such as Beauty, Infidelity, Death, Love, and Time. Through insightful analysis and discussion, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the nuances of Shakespeare's writing and how his works continue to captivate and inspire readers centuries later. Come explore the beautiful, complex world of Shakespearean sonnets and enhance your literary knowledge and appreciation.
1. Introduction: the development of the sonnet - from Petrarch to Shakespeare
2. Young love: the Fair Youth
3. The Dark Lady
4. Connections to the plays
5. Modern correspondences
Please note that the ‘last date available to book’ date is only a guide. We reserve the right to close bookings earlier if courses are over- or under-subscribed. In order to avoid disappointment, please be sure enrol as soon as possible. Registrations will not be processed until the following day if received after 3pm.
Course Lecturer: Dr Kathleen O'Leary
Dr Kathleen O’Leary has taught on Continuing Education courses for almost nine years and in that time has offered courses on European literature, Jane Austen, poetry and Shakespeare. Her work focusses on the impact that early modern/medieval writers had on not only the development of the English language, but also on how character, irony and form influenced later writers, and indeed our modern perceptions of literature.
Courses fees: Full fee £75/Concession £38.
Back to: Continuing Education