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Posted on February 4th 2014
The Language of Love
Sixth form students enjoyed a university-style masterclass on Monday when top academics visited the academy for an English Literature conference organised as part of our A Level course.
One of the country’s leading Shakespeare scholars, Professor Rene Weis of University College London, opened the day with a lecture on the language of love in Romeo & Juliet. He placed the play in the context of what we know of Shakespeare’s own family including his daughter, Judith, and the death in 1596 of his son, Hamnet.
"Eclipsing Shakespeare"
"The talk didn’t just help me understand the play, it gave me more knowledge about the context in which Shakespeare wrote it, which was really interesting and enjoyable,” said Palmeta of Year 13.
Other speakers included Dr Clare McManus of the University of Roehampton, who talked about John Fletcher’s play, Island Princess, an edition of which she has just edited for the Arden Early Modern Drama series, and Professor Tom Healy of the University of Sussex, who spoke about what it meant to declare love in 17th century poetry.
Dr McManus pointed out that Fletcher was “the playwright the 17th century enjoyed the most”. We are used to Shakespeare "blocking out the light" from other contemporary playwrights, she commented, but at the time “Fletcher eclipsed him”.
"Not intimidating"
The conference followed the success of our King Lear study day last term. “Events like this give students a sense of how exciting English literature can be at university,” said Head of English, Chris Brown. “You will hear things in lectures you don’t understand and you need to show resilience, make notes and come back to them later.”
The conference ‘sold out’ within minutes of being announced, with students attending from Harris academies at Crystal Place, Merton, Beckenham and Chafford Hundred as well.
"I think days like this are invaluable because they show students that university level English can be challenging without being intimidating, and that we’re all speaking the same language,” said Professor Weis.
Below: Professor Rene Weis of University College London with students at our A level English Literature study day.
Below: Dr Clare McManus of the University of Roehempton, talking about John Fletcher's play, Island Princess.
Below: Our sixth form study day for the Love Through the Ages course.
