Patrick Lambdin, upside down on an ancient Roman road called the Appia Antica.Rachel Kimmerling and Megan White, at the famous Trevi Fountain, in Rome. group photo in front of a Bernini sculpture called the Elephantino

J-Term 2011

Shakespeare in Rome

Study tour lets students experience Rome through the dramatic imagination of Shakespeare

March 9, 2011

A group of 14 Carthage students traveled to Rome during J-Term 2011, where they studied Shakespeare's most famous Roman plays as they explored the city's symbolic landscape.

The course, Shakespeare in Rome, was taught by Seemee Ali, a professor of Great Ideas and English, and Michael McShane, a professor of Great Ideas and philosophy. Although Profs. Ali and McShane have taught the course before, this was the first time they traveled all the way to Rome to do it.

"Shakespeare invites you into the history of Rome in a way that historical readings do not," said Prof. Ali. "Shakespeare helps you feel the struggles that made Rome what it was for good or for ill. ... We were considering the history and myths of Rome as Shakespeare represents them in the plays."

The course focused on three of Shakespeare's most famous Roman plays: "Coriolanus," "Julius Caesar," and "Antony and Cleopatra." Students spent the first two weeks of J-Term on campus reading the plays. They spent the last two weeks visiting locations in Rome that are important in the plays.

The study tour allowed students to experience first-hand the history and buildings of Shakespeare's settings — places very distant from a regular classroom. Students also studied Shakespeare's political philosophy as it emerged in his interpretation of Roman myth and history. Other course readings included philosophic readings by Plutarch, Aristotle, Plato, Livy, Lucretius and Virgil.

The students jumped feet-first into the culture of Rome. "We had a Rome 101 day where we gave the students some really simple lessons, for example how to cross the street in Rome," said Prof. Ali.

"If you love learning things hands-on, and actually being there and seeing it, this is the perfect trip to take," said Melanie Brommelkamp, '14, of Island Lake, Ill.

"I did not expect to learn from this experience how much richer the imaginative world of Shakespeare's plays are from the physical world," Prof. McShane said. The trip was so successful that he and Prof. Ali are considering offering the study tour again next J-Term, he added. 

 

Photo 3  above 

from back left

Rachael Kimmerling, Megan Smith, Katelyn White, Joe Otto, Darwin Graser, Professor McShane, Patrick Lambdin, Matt Breuer, Rebecca Baader, Melissa Engelking, Melanie Brommelkamp, Kelly Kerstein, Rachael martin, Professor Ali, Emily Oleson, Bryan Przybilla. 

 

— By Will Fisher, '14