Literature | The World of Romeo and Juliet

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★★★★★4.7/5 Course Rating

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Prof Madhavi Menon

Professor of English, Ashoka University

Programme Faculty

Prof Madhavi Menon

Professor of English,
Director, Centre for Studies in Gender & Sexuality, Ashoka University

Ph.D. Tufts University

Programme Dates

To be announced*

Application Deadline

To be announced*
*tentative schedule and details, subject to change

Programme Duration

18 hours live teaching over 4-5 weekends

Level

Introductory college-level

Mode

Online

Fees

Rs 22,000/- +GST

Certified

Certified

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About the course

Ever wondered how the timeless tale of Romeo and Juliet has been reimagined across cultures and mediums, from ancient Persian epics like Layla-Majnun to modern films like Ram Leela and Arshinagar? This live, interactive, and certified course, spanning four weekends, invites you to explore the multifaceted world of Shakespeare’s iconic play. Together, we’ll delve into how the Bard’s vision has been adapted and reinterpreted globally, examining the cultural, social, and emotional nuances that make this story universally resonant. Along the way, you will gain a critical understanding of literature’s power to question borders of community and desire.

Designed for high schoolers (Grades 9-12), this course offers a university-level insight into the transformative world of literature and its role in shaping our collective imagination.

APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.*

Small cohorts, big impact.

*tentative schedule and details, subject to change

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Eligibility Learning Outcomes Programme Details Faculty Achievements

Eligibility

  • High school students from India and across the world are eligible to apply.
  • Students should be entering or in grades 9-12 as on the course commencement date.
  • Students should be comfortable with written & spoken English, which will be the medium of instruction for the courses.
  • Students should have consistent access to the Internet and a computer that aligns with the recommended minimum specifications.
  • Students should have good and consistent academic record.

Who is this course for?

This course is for high schoolers studying literature or film/ media studies/ social sciences or considering them for higher education. It’s also ideal for those who enjoy reading, bringing a more nuanced understanding to their love for literature.

Prerequisites: High proficiency in written & spoken English. You will be required to submit your latest mark sheet in the application form.

What is in it for me?

  • Deep Dive into Literature: Develop a rich understanding of foundational literary theories that enable us to read analytically, critically, and deeply.
  • Live Project: Using the prescribed course materials, write your own version of Romeo & Juliet in the modern world.
  • Peer Collaboration: Work with your classmates to create, present, or enact your version of the play.
  • Faculty Insights: Dive deep into the world of Shakespeare and critically explore the relationship between the written word and films.
  • Hands-on Workshops: Participate in activities that cultivate a nuanced understanding of interpretation of literature.
  • Expert Feedback: Benefit from guidance and reviews by faculty, mentors & industry experts.
  • Futuristic Perspectives: Understand the many changing and yet unchanging facets of literature as we look ahead, into the future.

What do I take away

By the end of this course, you will:

  • Develop a rich appreciation of Shakespearean texts, especially through the lens of various cultural adaptations and modern reinterpretations.
  • Cultivate a discerning eye that empowers you to discuss the power and scope of literature.
  • Obtain a tangible understanding of the issues of love, conflict, and societal norms that go beyond the pages, involving ethical considerations and emotional complexities.
  • Acquire a forward-looking view on the future of literature as both a reflection and influence in shaping collective imagination and societal behaviour.

 

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Programme Details

Week Lecture Module Project Module
Week 1 Shakespearean Context & Language Character Blueprint: Modernizing Romeo & Juliet
Week 2 Romeo & Juliet: Core Themes Setting & Context: Choosing Your Verona
Week 3 Global Reinterpretations: Layla-Majnun to Ram Leela Conflict Reimagined: Social Norms & Taboos
Week 4 Ethics & Emotions in Literature Enact Your Own Romeo & Juliet

Faculty

Madhavi Menon is Professor of English at Ashoka University. She earned her Bachelors and Masters in English from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and her PhD from Tufts University. Prior to joining Ashoka, she taught at Ithaca College and American University.

Her latest book is titled The Law of Desire (Speaking Tiger, 2021). She is also the author of Infinite Variety: A History of Desire in India (Speaking Tiger, 2018), and several books on queer theory , as well as editor of Shakesqueer: A Queer Companion to the Complete Works of Shakespeare (Duke University Press, 2011).

Professor Menon’s research interests include, among other things, Queer Theory,  Renaissance Literature, and Shakespeare. Broadly, Professor Menon works with questions of sexuality, desire, gender, politics, and identity.

Shohini Ghosh completed her Masters from AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia and MPS from Department of Communication, Cornell University, USA. She began teaching at the MCRC from 1990. Prior to starting her career as an academic, Ghosh worked as a producer of UGC educational films at the MCRC where she produced, directed and edited educational films and documentaries for the Country-wide classroom project. She is co-founder of Mediastorm Collective, India’s first all women documentary production collective which received the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Work among Women Media Professionals in 1992. Ghosh writes extensively on cinema, contemporary media, speech and censorship, documentary and issues of gender and sexuality. She has been Visiting Associate Professor at the Department of Communication, Cornell University, USA (1990-1996); Globalization-McArthur Fellow at the University of Chicago, Fellow at the Gender, Sexuality and Law Research Group of the Law Department at Keele University, UK and Visiting Professor to the Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture and Society at the International School for Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Grading, assessments, certification and much more

All Ashoka Horizons courses offer a certificate on satisfactory completion of the course. The 2 components of student assessment are-

  1. Regular assessments through in-class quizzes
  2. Final group project where students will present their own re-imagination of Romeo and Juliet
  3. Certificate of completion

Class participation will be assessed based on your active engagement in live sessions, contributions to discussion forums, and involvement in Teaching Fellow-led activities. Letters of Appreciation will be issued for select students based on exceptional performance in the course.

IT Requirements

This programme  is administered through an online platform. Students are expected to have a foundational understanding of computer usage, including but not limited to sending emails and conducting Internet searches. Consistent access to the Internet and a computer that aligns with the recommended minimum specifications are also requisite for participation in the programme.

Have a question about Ashoka Horizons Achievers Programme? Write to us on horizons@ashoka.edu.in

Programme Faculty

Prof Madhavi Menon

Professor of English,
Director, Centre for Studies in Gender & Sexuality, Ashoka University

Ph.D. Tufts University

Programme Dates

To be announced*

Application Deadline

To be announced*
*tentative schedule and details, subject to change

Programme Duration

18 hours live teaching over 4-5 weekends

Level

Introductory college-level

Mode

Online

Fees

Rs 22,000/- +GST

Certified

Certified

Register Interest

From the past learners: Horizons Achievers Programme ratings and testimonials

Overall Experience: 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★
Engagement during Project Modules: 5 / 5 ★★★★★
Clarity of Course Materials: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★
Effectiveness of Teaching Styles: 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★
Peer Engagement: 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★
Level of Interaction with Faculty & TFs: 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

The Horizons Course will definitely help me in my application. Applications to the UK and Ireland look for demonstrated interest in the subject of the degree applied for. I will be able to write about my experience in the Horizons course as one that deepened my interest in literature beyond the classroom (something the universities I’m applying to are looking for) and which developed the way in which I read literature, helped my close reading skills, allowed me to see the different themes of the play as working in conversation with each other rather than discreetly. I can use it to answer a question about demonstrated interest in the subject (which will definitely come up in some form or the other).

Devyani Rao (Grade 11, Inventure Academy, Banglore)

Literature | The World of Romeo and Juliet

My 3 key takeaways from the course are: how to analyse certain lines, how to not always stick to the plot and read between the lines, and how to express my thoughts better.

Amayra Mohanka (Grade 9, La Martiniere for Girls School, Kolkata)

Literature | The World of Romeo and Juliet

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