Reading Shakespeare: A Winter's Tale - five Acts, five Weeks
Interested in spending time familiarising yourself with Shakespeare? Join this five-week course to explore his late play, The Winter’s Tale, taking it one act at a time.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
The course will explore over five weeks - one week per act - Shakespeare’s late play 'The Winter's Tale. Discussion topics will include the origins of the play, when in Shakespeare's career it was written, parallels with other plays by Shakespeare and the key ideas explored in the text. We will read extracts from key scenes and view short film clips in order to analyse the development of characters and themes as the play progresses.
What will we cover?
-the play's background -an overview of what happens and to whom -analysis of key characters and themes -parallels with other plays by Shakespeare -close reading and analysis of some key scenes and speeches.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- identify key elements of the background to the play -identify the main characters and what happens to them during the play -comment with understanding on what we learn about characters and ideas in selected scenes from the play -comment with understanding on Shakespeare's use of language in selected scenes and speeches -draw some parallels between this play and others by Shakespeare.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is introductory. You need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing texts in large and small groups. A willingness to listen and respectfully respond to ideas with which you may not always agree are more important than specific levels of skill.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught through a mixture of tutor explanation, whole and small group discussion, Q & A, close reading exercises and discussion of short excerpts. You might want to bring a copy of the whole play. Extracts discussed in class will also be provided.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
No extra costs, beyond buying a copy of The Winter's Tale, by William Shakespeare.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
In term two we will be running HLT305 Reading Shakespeare: a director's perspective, covering Cymbeline and The Tempest. Look for other drama courses on our website under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Claire Allen is a published author of fiction and poetry and teaches literature and creative writing at City Lit. Her first two novels, The Mountain of Light and Protection, were published by Headline Review in 2004 and 2006. Her most recent novel, The Blackbird, was published by small independent publisher Henningham Family Press in 2020.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/reading-shakespeare-a-winter-s-tale-five-acts-five-weeks3050977Reading Shakespeare: A Winter's Tale - five Acts, five Weekshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/literature-taster-poetry-hlt373-1080.jpg159159GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Drama22851177118711891228511771187<p>Interested in spending time familiarising yourself with Shakespeare? Join this five-week course to explore his late play, <em>The Winter’s Tale</em>, taking it one act at a time.</p>003050968Reading Shakespeare: A Winter's Tale - five Acts, five Weeks159159https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/literature-taster-poetry-hlt373-1080.jpgInStockDaytimeWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-11-04T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNov 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT42159159Reading Shakespeare: A Winter's Tale - five Acts, five Weeks127103159Claire Allenreading-shakespeare-a-winter-s-tale-five-acts-five-weeks/hlt42-2627<p>Interested in spending time familiarising yourself with Shakespeare? Join this five-week course to explore his late play, <em>The Winter’s Tale</em>, taking it one act at a time.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-04 00:00:00<p>The course will explore over five weeks - one week per act - Shakespeare’s late play <em>'The Winter's Tale.</em> Discussion topics will include the origins of the play, when in Shakespeare's career it was written, parallels with other plays by Shakespeare and the key ideas explored in the text. We will read extracts from key scenes and view short film clips in order to analyse the development of characters and themes as the play progresses. </p><p>Interested in spending time familiarising yourself with Shakespeare? Join this five-week course to explore his late play, <em>The Winter’s Tale</em>, taking it one act at a time.</p><p>-the play's background<br>-an overview of what happens and to whom<br>-analysis of key characters and themes<br>-parallels with other plays by Shakespeare<br>-close reading and analysis of some key scenes and speeches.</p><p> </p><p>- identify key elements of the background to the play<br>-identify the main characters and what happens to them during the play<br>-comment with understanding on what we learn about characters and ideas in selected scenes from the play<br>-comment with understanding on Shakespeare's use of language in selected scenes and speeches<br>-draw some parallels between this play and others by Shakespeare.</p><p>The course is introductory. You need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing texts in large and small groups. A willingness to listen and respectfully respond to ideas with which you may not always agree are more important than specific levels of skill.</p><p>You will be taught through a mixture of tutor explanation, whole and small group discussion, Q & A, close reading exercises and discussion of short excerpts. You might want to bring a copy of the whole play. Extracts discussed in class will also be provided.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>No extra costs, beyond buying a copy of <em>The Winter's Tale,</em> by William Shakespeare. </p><p>In term two we will be running HLT305 <em>Reading Shakespeare: a director's perspective</em>, covering <em>Cymbeline</em> and <em>The Tempest. </em>Look for other drama courses on our website under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureDramavirtual127159103HLT42NONEWed04/11/26 - 02/12/2615:00 - 17:0015:0017:005 sessions (over 5 weeks)55-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetClaire AllenBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-11-04T00:00:00+00:00Nov 2026Culture, history & humanities159159Reading Shakespeare: A Winter's Tale - five Acts, five Weeksreading-shakespeare-a-winter-s-tale-five-acts-five-weeks/hlt42-2627<p>Interested in spending time familiarising yourself with Shakespeare? Join this five-week course to explore his late play, <em>The Winter’s Tale</em>, taking it one act at a time.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-04 00:00:00<p>The course will explore over five weeks - one week per act - Shakespeare’s late play <em>'The Winter's Tale.</em> Discussion topics will include the origins of the play, when in Shakespeare's career it was written, parallels with other plays by Shakespeare and the key ideas explored in the text. We will read extracts from key scenes and view short film clips in order to analyse the development of characters and themes as the play progresses. </p><p>Interested in spending time familiarising yourself with Shakespeare? Join this five-week course to explore his late play, <em>The Winter’s Tale</em>, taking it one act at a time.</p><p>-the play's background<br>-an overview of what happens and to whom<br>-analysis of key characters and themes<br>-parallels with other plays by Shakespeare<br>-close reading and analysis of some key scenes and speeches.</p><p> </p><p>- identify key elements of the background to the play<br>-identify the main characters and what happens to them during the play<br>-comment with understanding on what we learn about characters and ideas in selected scenes from the play<br>-comment with understanding on Shakespeare's use of language in selected scenes and speeches<br>-draw some parallels between this play and others by Shakespeare.</p><p>The course is introductory. You need an enthusiasm for reading and discussing texts in large and small groups. A willingness to listen and respectfully respond to ideas with which you may not always agree are more important than specific levels of skill.</p><p>You will be taught through a mixture of tutor explanation, whole and small group discussion, Q &amp; A, close reading exercises and discussion of short excerpts. You might want to bring a copy of the whole play. Extracts discussed in class will also be provided.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>No extra costs, beyond buying a copy of <em>The Winter's Tale,</em> by William Shakespeare. </p><p>In term two we will be running HLT305 <em>Reading Shakespeare: a director's perspective</em>, covering <em>Cymbeline</em> and <em>The Tempest. </em>Look for other drama courses on our website under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureDramaconfigurable
11891187Dramahttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/literature/drama-plays-and-players1/2/285/1177/1187/11891/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Drama
