Searing, Soaring and Seductive Shakespeare Speeches ~ with Dr. Francesca Cauchi

In this workshop, you will learn to unlock the deeper meaning of three iconic Shakespeare speeches: Lady Macbeth’s seductive overtures to the spirits of darkness, King Lear’s piercing moment of self-recognition, and Henry V’s rousing speech to his men on the eve of the Battle of Agincourt (1415), a battle in which the French soldiers outnumbered the English by a ratio of 5:1.   You will be introduced to the iambic pentameter and shown how to close read a literary text, especially one which is written in verse form. By paying meticulous attention to poetic form, you will (a) learn how to identify key literary devices such as alliteration, assonance, caesura, and plosives; (b) discover through these devices multiple layers of meaning; and (c) enjoy the inestimable pleasure of fully appreciating Shakespeare’s craft. *No previous experience with Shakespeare is necessary. *After receiving her PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1994, Francesca has been introducing students all over the