ELIT415 Shakespeare
ELIT415 Shakespeare
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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English Language and Literature
Vesna Suljić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to William Shakespeare as a poet and as a playwright. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the historical context and characteristics of the drama in Shakespeare's times and to identify the reasons for Shakespeare's global popularity in the 21st century. This course will narrow its scope on reading selective material from the vast Shakespeare's output and on seeing a performance of a play either recorded, or a live one. The aim of the course is also to identify the ways in which reading and analyzing plays and theatrical performances can contribute to the students’ perception of social, gender, economic or political problems and their understanding how these issues are presented in the text and performed to the audiences.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
- The Course Reader prepared by V. Suljic - An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing – Tenth Edition – by X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioa (Part 3 – Drama), Pearson, 2007
Additional Literature
Plays: Merchant of Venice; The Midsummer's Night Dream; Julius Caesar; Macbeth; King Lear; The Tempest. selection of articlesTeaching Methods
The course is student-centered and student-production-oriented
The course outline gives space and opportunities to students with different skills and learning styles to study and express their views through writing, speaking, acting or other forms of communication
The professor will be initiating subjects through short lectures, deliver certain topics, guide class activities, monitor continuous progress of the students, determine texts and plays to be studied, and distribute topics for debate/discussion/presentations
Some general introductory information about the development of drama and theatrical production as well as basic information about the conventions of the play is included in the Course Reader; other handouts/articles/video or audio material will be provided when necessary
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: the Course outline; Shakespeare's biography; Shakespeare the poet | The Course Reader Chapters 1 & 2 |
| 2 | Analysis of a sonnet; Shakespeare and the historical context of his work and plays; Characteristics of Elizabethan and Jacobean plays | The Course Reader Chapters 3-7; RSC video |
| 3 | Shakespeare and literary criticism; Shakespeare's language; rhetorical devices; Shakespeare's plays | The Course Reader , Chapters 8 - 10 |
| 4 | Shakespeare's comedy/tragicomedy/romance: general features. A Midsummer's Night Dream | |
| 5 | The Merchant of Venice: sources for the play; the structure/ plot/sub-plots summary; characterization; | The Course Reader Chapter 11 |
| 6 | The Merchant of Venice: rhetorical devices; themes (mercy; love); prejudice and social injustice; gender roles; money and usury; anti-semitism | Scene analysis (Shylock's speech; Portia's speech) |
| 7 | Quiz #1; Internationalisation of Shakespeare; films and books inspired by his works | The Course Reader Chapter 14; video materials |
| 8 | MID-TERM EXAM | |
| 9 | History play/tragedy: Julius Caesar: sources, historical references; biography; Shakespeare and politics; structure of the play; plot summary, settings characterization; | The Course Reader Chapter 12; Scene analysis (Act I,2; Act II,1; Act II,2; Act III,1) |
| 10 | Julius Caesar: characterization; themes: power / loyalty; the power of rhetoric | Scene analysis (Act III,2 Brutus' speech; Antony's speech) |
| 11 | Macbeth - A story of power and greed; Different productions of Macbeth; King Lear - family values, social order | video materials |
| 12 | Quiz #2; The Tempest: structure, setting, the plot summary; comic sub-plots; characterization; comic characters; | The Course Reader; video materials |
| 13 | The Tempest: Themes; language; imagery; theatrical production | Scene Analysis (Act I,1; Act II,2) |
| 14 | Revision; Acting a scene | |
| 15 | Revision; Preparation for final exams |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIT415.1 | Course | Wednesday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F2.8 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 16:00 | B F2.22 | |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F2.22 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4 5
In-class participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
In-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Homework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Quizes
6 hours ⏳ (2 week × 3 h)
Homework
10 hours ⏳ (10 week × 1 h)
In-term exam study
20 hours ⏳ (2 week × 10 h)
Final Exam Study
30 hours ⏳ (3 week × 10 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ELIT415] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ELIT415 | Shakespeare | 2 | 1 | 6 | Wednesday 12.00 - 14.50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Vesna Suljić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 13:00-16:00 Wednesday: 9:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| vsuljic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces students to William Shakespeare as a poet and as a playwright. The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the historical context and characteristics of the drama in Shakespeare's times and to identify the reasons for Shakespeare's global popularity in the 21st century. This course will narrow its scope on reading selective material from the vast Shakespeare's output and on seeing a performance of a play either recorded, or a live one. The aim of the course is also to identify the ways in which reading and analyzing plays and theatrical performances can contribute to the students’ perception of social, gender, economic or political problems and their understanding how these issues are presented in the text and performed to the audiences. | |||||||||
| Textbook | - The Course Reader prepared by V. Suljic - An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing – Tenth Edition – by X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioa (Part 3 – Drama), Pearson, 2007 | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | The course is student-centered and student-production-oriented. The course outline gives space and opportunities to students with different skills and learning styles to study and express their views through writing, speaking, acting or other forms of communication. The professor will be initiating subjects through short lectures, deliver certain topics, guide class activities, monitor continuous progress of the students, determine texts and plays to be studied, and distribute topics for debate/discussion/presentations. Some general introductory information about the development of drama and theatrical production as well as basic information about the conventions of the play is included in the Course Reader; other handouts/articles/video or audio material will be provided when necessary. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction: the Course outline; Shakespeare's biography; Shakespeare the poet | The Course Reader Chapters 1 & 2 | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Analysis of a sonnet; Shakespeare and the historical context of his work and plays; Characteristics of Elizabethan and Jacobean plays | The Course Reader Chapters 3-7; RSC video | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Shakespeare and literary criticism; Shakespeare's language; rhetorical devices; Shakespeare's plays | The Course Reader , Chapters 8 - 10 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Shakespeare's comedy/tragicomedy/romance: general features. A Midsummer's Night Dream | |||||||||
| Week 5 | The Merchant of Venice: sources for the play; the structure/ plot/sub-plots summary; characterization; | The Course Reader Chapter 11 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | The Merchant of Venice: rhetorical devices; themes (mercy; love); prejudice and social injustice; gender roles; money and usury; anti-semitism | Scene analysis (Shylock's speech; Portia's speech) | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Quiz #1; Internationalisation of Shakespeare; films and books inspired by his works | The Course Reader Chapter 14; video materials | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MID-TERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | History play/tragedy: Julius Caesar: sources, historical references; biography; Shakespeare and politics; structure of the play; plot summary, settings characterization; | The Course Reader Chapter 12; Scene analysis (Act I,2; Act II,1; Act II,2; Act III,1) | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Julius Caesar: characterization; themes: power / loyalty; the power of rhetoric | Scene analysis (Act III,2 Brutus' speech; Antony's speech) | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Macbeth - A story of power and greed; Different productions of Macbeth; King Lear - family values, social order | video materials | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Quiz #2; The Tempest: structure, setting, the plot summary; comic sub-plots; characterization; comic characters; | The Course Reader; video materials | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The Tempest: Themes; language; imagery; theatrical production | Scene Analysis (Act I,1; Act II,2) | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Revision; Acting a scene | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Revision; Preparation for final exams | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In-class participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| In-term exam | 1 | 20 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 2 | 20 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Homework | 1 | 20 | 3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 3 | 14 | 42 | |||
| Quizes | 3 | 2 | 6 | Homework | 1 | 10 | 10 | |||
| In-term exam study | 10 | 2 | 20 | Final Exam Study | 10 | 3 | 30 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/02/2026 | |||||||||