Student Interest Surges in Shakespeare Courses for Spring Semester

The upcoming spring semester at Yale University has seen a notable increase in student interest in Shakespeare courses, according to faculty members in the English Department. David Bromwich, Sterling Professor of English, reported that requests to enroll in his class, “Shakespeare’s Political Plays,” have reached unprecedented levels, with far more students seeking permission than he can accommodate.

As of Thursday, the course demand statistics revealed that Bromwich had to decline additional enrollments. The English Department is offering three Shakespeare-related courses this spring: Bromwich’s “Shakespeare’s Political Plays,” Nicole Sheriko’s “Shakespeare and Popular Culture,” and “Acting Shakespeare,” taught by James Bundy, the dean of Yale’s David Geffen School of Drama.

Current registration numbers show that Sheriko’s course has attracted 17 students, while Bundy’s class has 26 enrollees. Marcel Elias, the department’s associate director of undergraduate studies, noted that interest levels vary depending on course content but pointed out that strong enrollment patterns are a common occurrence.

Elias highlighted that newly introduced Shakespeare courses might take some time to gain popularity, but established classes tend to fill rapidly during registration periods. He referenced recent enrollment trends, mentioning that Catherine Nicholson’s lecture course, “Shakespeare: Page, Stage, and Screen,” was so well-received that an additional section had to be added this semester.

Bromwich’s course, which focuses on the moral and political questions in plays like “Julius Caesar” and “Coriolanus,” appeals not only to English majors but also to students from diverse fields such as political theory, drama, philosophy, and even STEM disciplines.

Sheriko is offering two Shakespeare-related classes this term. Her foundational course, “Readings in English Poetry I,” aims to introduce students to early modern poetry, including works by Shakespeare. In “Shakespeare and Popular Culture,” a junior seminar, she explores the various cultural adaptations of Shakespeare’s works, stating, “There are many ways in which Shakespeare is still with us.”

Students in this seminar will examine a range of cultural materials, from Tumblr posts to comics and television adaptations. Sheriko emphasized that Shakespeare’s enduring popularity stems from the continual reinterpretation of his works. “As people pick them up, they change them and rework them, and those revisions go on to have a life of their own,” she explained.

Many students express a desire to understand Shakespeare as a foundational element of culture before graduating. Valerie Calderon-Meyer, a student registered for Sheriko’s course, remarked, “I feel like you see a lot of Shakespeare references in the media, and honestly, I just wanted to be in the loop.” Similarly, Matt Letourneau, another student, shared that his family’s love for Shakespeare played a significant role in his decision to enroll.

Elias noted that the English Department approaches early modern literature with a broad perspective, balancing traditional courses with innovative offerings. He mentioned interdisciplinary classes like “Black Shakespeare,” which addresses the impact of the Shakespearean canon on discussions of race, although it will not be available this spring.

Bromwich’s “Shakespeare’s Political Plays” was last offered in the spring of 2024, and the current surge in interest reflects a continuing engagement with Shakespeare’s works among students at Yale. As the spring semester approaches, the English Department looks forward to another term filled with exploration and discussion surrounding one of literature’s most influential figures.