Lecturers at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) have published a book of essays on Shakespeare’s The Tempest to support Leaving Cert students in their English studies this academic year.
Essays available on the Waterford IT website explore a range of themes and techniques in The Tempest from characterisation and imagery to themes of power and the supernatural, and Shakespeare’s use of sound and dialogue in the text.
The prescribed Shakespearean texts for the Leaving Certificate 2020/21 are The Tempest and King Lear. A Guide to The Tempest, along with essays on King Lear, are available on the WIT website.
Drawing on the expertise of lecturers in the Department of Arts in the WIT School of Humanities, the essays explore a range of themes and techniques in The Tempest from characterisation and imagery to themes of power and the supernatural, and Shakespeare’s use of sound and dialogue in the text. The essays on King Lear traverse themes of power, madness, and kinship in the text.
Autonomous Learning
The guides are designed to support students in their autonomous learning and secondary research in preparation for their exams.
“It is a challenging time for Leaving Cert students,” says Dr Christa de Brún, Lecturer in English, WIT. “We hope that the guides will help to consolidate knowledge of the texts, focus revision and maximise student potential.”
“WIT is delighted to share these two study guides,” Dr Suzanne Denieffe, Head of the School of Humanities, said. “It is hoped that the guides will serve as a platform for further study for students and a useful resource for secondary education teachers.”
Essays included in the booklet on The Tempest:
The Transformation of Prospero by Dr Christa de Brún, Lecturer in English, School of Humanities, WIT
Analysing Sound and Dialogue in The Tempest by Dr Kate McCarthy, Lecturer in English, WIT
What is Caliban by Dr Richard Hayes, Vice President of Strategy, WIT
Essays included in the booklet on King Lear:
Brewing up a Storm: Lear, kingship and kinship by Margaret O’Brien, former Lecturer in English, WIT
Brewing up a storm: Power and empathy in King Lear by Dr Kate McCarthy, Lecturer in Drama, WIT
Shakespeare’s theatre of cruelty: King Lear by Dr Richard Hayes, Vice President of Strategy, WIT.
Fifth Year Students
Also included in the series is Shakespeare’s Othello to support fifth-year students in their English studies. The prescribed Shakespearean texts for the Leaving Certificate 2022 are Othello and Macbeth. The Macbeth guide will be available later in the year.
https://www.wit.ie/news/humanities/lecturers-expand-suite-of-leaving-cert-shakespeare-study-guides