The words of Shakespeare are alive. After 400 years people still quote from his famous speeches, for as Ben Jonson said of his friend: “he was not of an age but for all time”. This will be a hands on course where we will look at some famous speeches from a variety of Shakespeare’s plays. We will analyse why the speeches work so well within their context, and investigate just why these words and sayings continue to fascinate people today. We will look for situations that elicit suitable quotations and discover why Shakespeare continues to live amongst us today.

This is a Discussion Group course, if you aren’t already part of a group please see ‘Getting Started’ below.

Independent Study Discussion Courses are for study by groups without a tutor, so there is no need to write reports. These courses were written by tutors who have now since retired from the Discussion Group Program. Some courses were written a number of years ago, and therefore contain references to events which are now more historical than current, however, all are entertaining, well-produced and worthwhile.
 

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Author: Judy Hartshorne

Course Code: D180

Supplied Material: Course Booklet

Units & Pricing: 5 units / $44 per person

GETTING STARTED

Start your Group: Anyone can start a Discussion Group – seek out some like-minded friends or put up a notice in your local library, bookshop or workplace. Please note a minimum of 6 people is required to start a new discussion group.

Arrange the Meetings: New groups need to decide where and when to meet, and for how long – whatever best suits members' particular situations.

Run your Group: Choose a secretary to liaise with WEA and your tutor, a Discussion Leader to chair meetings, a reporter to take discussion notes to send to your tutor, and maybe a librarian to look after the books.

Start the Course: Contact WEA Sydney to enrol. Bookings can be made for one year, divided into two terms – Term 1 commences in February, Term 2 in July (Groups may make forward bookings for popular choices). Please indicate in what order your Group wishes to study the courses, if more than one course is booked.