"We are such stuff as dreams are made on,” we’re informed in one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated and enigmatic plays—The Tempest. This hybrid module explores the bard’s tale of magic, monsters, betrayal, and forgiveness, with discussions of the play’s text and lectures on its historical and theatrical context. We’ll look at the circumstances of its conception and early performance history alongside contemporary works on sea travel, exploration, and magic—including Walter Raleigh’s accounts of his voyages, Montaigne’s essay On Cannibals, and Reginald Scott’s tales of magic in foreign lands. We’ll also examine creative and scholarly responses to the play from Dryden, Johnson, Shelly, Browning, and others, ending with Peter Greenway’s film adaptation, Prospero’s Books (1991) starring Sir John Gielgud.

Hybrid Schedule:

Week One
• Lecture 1: Introducing The Tempest
• Discussion 1: The Tempest, Acts I and II
Week Two
• Lecture 2: Travel & Exploration in the Age of The Tempest
• Discussion 2: The Tempest, Acts III and IV
Week Three
• Lecture 3: Magic & Witchcraft
• Discussion 3: The Tempest, Act V
Week Four
• Lecture 4: Responses and Adaptations: 1660 - 2010
• Discussion 4: The Tempest on Screen: Prospero’s Books (1991)