In 2023, we will celebrate the 400-year anniversary of the First Folio, the first collection of Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies
printed by William und Isaac Jaggard in 1623, seven years after
Shakespeare’s death. 234 copies of this first edition are known to
exist. Earlier this year, a copy was sold for $2.4 million in New York.
The book has become a valuable object for investment, a collector’s
item, and a beacon for boarding up the Shakespeare canon. We will look
into the means of production at a printing press such as Jaggard’s,
reflect on editing and reading habits during Shakespeare’s time and
trace the legacy of the First Folio to the present day.
Students
signing up for this course should be genuinely interested in exploring
the First Folio and its legacy. Reading early modern texts requires a
level of commitment and dedication. Active participation in our
discussions based on a thorough preparation of set texts is a
prerequisite for taking part in this course.
In preparation for this seminar, please browse the Folger Library webpage: https://www.folger.edu/shakespeare/first-folio
The “Prüfungsleistung” for this course is a term paper of approximately 4500.
Reading
assignments will be communicated in advance, and writing tasks alongside active participation in our sessions will be
an integral part of this seminar. [Studienleistung]
- Dozent/in: Felix Sprang