Shakespeare the Bard: A Man for the Ages

For good reason, Shakespeare is one of the most famous and most influential writers of the English language. To help us unpack that topic, we'll explore the following questions:

1. In contrast with the greatness of man to be found in Hamlet, how does the relative bleakness of Macbeth resonate with a listener?
2. Of all the bard's plays, what makes As You Like It a good one to introduce students to Shakespeare?
3. Can The Merchant of Venice be understood in a way that is sympathetic to Jews?