The text, sources and performance history of Julius Caesar Flavius and Marullus disperse the crowd The running of the Lupercalia The soothsayer’s warning to Caesar: Beware the Ides of March! Cassius makes his first overture to Brutus Caesar likes fat guys Casca’s story about Caesar

Omens and portents Casca meets Cicero and Cassius in the storm Letters to Brutus Brutus’ decision in his orchard The conspirators arrive at Brutus’ house Debating who must die Portia hates secrets Caius Ligarius wants in

Calpurnia’s strange dream The augurers find a beast without a heart Decius Brutus convinces Caesar to go The conspirators come to collect Caesar Artemidorus’ warning letter to Caesar Portia and the soothsayer The road to the Capitol and the missed warnings Popilius Lena jumps the gun Metellus Cimber’s request Caesar the North Star Assassination! Washing hands in Caesar’s blood Antony’s return and deal with Brutus Antony plots revenge for Caesar Octavius is coming

The Art of Rhetoric Brutus defends killing Caesar Marc Antony’s funeral oration The mob finds Cinna the Poet Antony, Octavius and Lepidus make plans Antony’s real opinion of Lepidus

Brutus has doubts about Cassius Cassius is mad at Brutus Brutus accuses Cassius of taking bribes Brutus is short on cash Brutus and Cassius make up A poet interrupts Brutus and Cassius Portia is dead Portia is dead again? The decision to fight at Philippi Lucius’ song Great Caesar’s ghost Setting off early

Antony and Octavius disagree about battle tactics Parley before battle Cassius’ birthday Brutus and Cassius say goodbye Brutus attacks! Pindarus reports on Titinius’ ride Cassius’ suicide and Pindarus’ escape Titinius’ suicide Brutus finds Cassius’ body The second battle Lucilius impersonates Brutus Brutus’ difficult suicide Antony and Octavius pay tribute to Brutus

The texts, sources and performance history of A Midsummer Night’s Dream Theseus and Hippolyta make wedding plans Egeus is angry at Hermia for loving Lysander Hermia defends herself Theseus’ ruling Hermia and Lysander plan to elope Helena is miserable The mechanicals cast the play Bottom wants to play all the parts

English fairy traditions Introducing Puck Oberon and Titania fight over the changeling boy Oberon sends Puck for the magic flower Helena chases Demetrius Oberon sends Puck to enchant Demetrius

The Green World Titania’s lullaby Oberon enchants Titania Lysander and Hermia sleep cute Puck enchants the wrong guy Lysander loves the wrong girl Hermia wakes up alone The mechanicals rehearse Bottom has a few notes Puck puts the ass’ head on Bottom Bottom scares away his friends Titania falls in love with Bottom the ass Bottom meets the fairies

Puck tells Oberon about Titania’s new boyfriend Hermia thinks Demetrius killed Lysander Oberon enchants Demetrius Now Lysander and Demetrius both love Helena Helena doesn’t trust their love, or Hermia’s protestations Lysander rejects Hermia Helena and Hermia fight! Now Lysander and Demetrius fight! Puck the ventriloquist Everybody goes to sleep Puck unenchants Lysander

Bottom orders the fairies around Oberon unenchants Titania Theseus and Hippolyta wake the lovers Bottom remembers his dream Bottom saves the day!

Theseus and Hippolyta talk fairy tales Philostrate lays out the newlyweds’ entertainment options The mechanicals perform Pyramus and Thisbe Puck returns to sweep the way Oberon and Titania bless the house Puck’s epilogue

The texts, sources and performance history of Hamlet Bernardo relieves Francisco Marcellus brings in Horatio for a ghostly consultation The ghost is here! Horatio’s theory: it’s about Norway The ghost is back! They agree to tell Hamlet about the ghost  

Claudius thanks everyone for going along with the marriage Claudius sends Voltemand and Cornelius to deal with Norway Polonius wants Claudius’ permission to go to France Get over it, Hamlet / You’re not my real dad! Gertrude convinces Hamlet not to go back to Wittenberg Hamlet’s soliloquy about why he’s angry at Claudius and Gertrude Horatio breaks the ghost news to Hamlet Laertes has some unsolicited advice for Ophelia Polonius has some unsolicited advice for Laertes Polonius tells...

Hamlet hates the Danish reputation for drunkenness Hamlet sees the ghost Horatio and the guards try to keep Hamlet from going with the ghost Catholics, Protestants and ghosts The ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius killed him Hamlet vows to remember the ghost’s command Hamlet swears his friends to secrecy Polonius sends Reynaldo to spy on Laertes Ophelia tells Polonius about Hamlet’s strange behavior

Claudius and Gertrude assign Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to investigate Hamlet’s behavior Voltemand and Cornelius announce that the Norwegian troubles are over Polonius floats a theory about Hamlet’s madness Polonius examines Hamlet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern approach Hamlet Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Hamlet about the actors Hamlet welcomes the actors The fall of Troy speech Hamlet plans a play for Claudius

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report back to Claudius and Gertrude Polonius and Claudius set Ophelia as bait and hide Hamlet wonders why he’s afraid to act Ophelia returns Hamlet’s gifts Hamlet goes off on Ophelia Ophelia laments Hamlet’s transformation Claudius is shaken Hamlet gives the actors some acting advice Hamlet and Horatio plan for the play Hamlet entertains the royal party and teases Ophelia The dumb show The actors perform The Mousetrap Claudius stops the play Hamlet...

Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England Claudius confesses the murder but can’t repent Hamlet sneaks up on Claudius but can’t go through with his revenge Hamlet confronts Gertrude Hamlet stabs Polonius through the arras The ghost reappears Hamlet begs Gertrude to stay away from Claudius Gertrude reports Polonius’ death to Claudius Rosencrantz and Guildenstern chase Hamlet Hamlet messes with Claudius Claudius tells Hamlet that he’s sending him to...

Hamlet meets the Norwegian army Hamlet feels like a dope compared to Fortinbras Ophelia goes crazy Laertes is back from France and he’s angry Claudius insists he’s innocent of Polonius’ death Laertes sees what’s happened to Ophelia Ophelia hands out flowers Hamlet sends a sailor to summon Horatio  Claudius explains that Hamlet killed Polonius A cryptic letter arrives for Claudius from Hamlet Claudius plans a fencing match for Laertes to kill Hamlet (and a backup poisoning) Gertrude...

The gravediggers dig and riddle Hamlet thinks about what’s left after death Hamlet and the gravedigger trade wits Hamlet faces his old friend Yorick’s skull Ophelia’s funeral procession arrives Laertes wants the priest to give Ophelia full rites Hamlet interrupts the funeral Hamlet and Laertes fight in Ophelia’s grave

Hamlet tells Horatio about Claudius’ plot and his pirate adventures Osric delivers the challenge, and Hamlet mocks him mercilessly Hamlet is ready to die Hamlet apologizes to Laertes Hamlet and Laertes fence Claudius poisons the wine, and Gertrude drinks it and dies Laertes stabs Hamlet, and Hamlet returns the favor Laertes reveals the treachery, and Hamlet kills Claudius Laertes begs Hamlet’s forgiveness, and dies Hamlet asks Horatio to tell his story Fortinbras and his army...

1. What is Clear Shakespeare, and who is it for?  2. The life and times of William Shakespeare (15:23)  3. The afterlife of Shakespeare – how he became SHAKESPEARE (37:14)  4. The accidental barriers to reading Shakespeare, and how we can get past them (46:25)