Hamlet and Its Criticism
Bernard McElroy, Loyola University
Shakespeare’s Hamlet served as the vehicle for exploring wide-ranging questions of literary and interpretive theory. About one third of the course time was spent on the play itself, analyzing its principal scenes and speeches from various viewpoints. The remainder was spent reading and discussing a generous sampling of the enormous secondary literature. While due attention was paid to the complex critical history of the play, there was greater emphasis on the more recent criticism and theory of commentators such as Lacan, Giraud, Booth, Calderwood, dollimore, Weimann. A thorough familiarity with Hamlet was presumed as a prerequisite.
Learn more about Center for Renaissance Studies programs for graduate students.