That which we call a Rose course by any other word – or on any other continent – would smell as sweet.
Throughout the on-campus course, the bardolaters thoroughly dissected five of the famous works – Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Titus Andronicus, Twelfth Night, and Antony and Cleopatra – reading and watching performances of each.
Analyzing themes evoked by the plays, the class sparked intense discussions about both the content and the manner in which the productions presented them.
"Thinking in an analytical sense about the media we absorb has been really valuable for me," said Victoria Stapf, a rising sophomore chemical engineering major. "The way Shakespeare said something might feel old-fashioned, but the themes are still heavily addressed today – maybe not in the same words, but in the same feelings and emotions."
This summer, the students took their learning across the pond to experience theater in a way that would have made Shakespeare proud.
They toured the iconic Globe Theatre, an authentic replica of the round, open-air venue where many of Shakespeare's plays were first performed.
In the accompanying museum, students even tried on props and costumes that had been worn in previous Globe productions.
The Globe Theatre's distinctive shape offers an unparalleled audience experience, which stunned the students during that evening's performance of "Romeo and Juliet."
"Not often does a piece of media or a performance bring a tear to my eye, but the performances of "Romeo and Juliet" and "Hamlet" were both emotionally strong enough for me to form a bond with these people and actually feel empathy and sadness within the first 45 minutes," said Eric Martin, a rising junior electrical engineering major.
Martin, who performed an adaptation of Shakespeare's plays in high school and is well-versed with the narratives of both "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet", attributes it to the power of live performance.
"Having that almost personal connection of being there and [the actor] almost facing us brings it to another level," Martin said. "We know how it ends from the very start. But I was on the edge of my seat waiting for what comes next."
The group also watched a Royal Shakespeare Company production of "Titus Andronicus" in a different venue, allowing them to compare interpretations, dramatic choices, and set and costume design both between productions and with what they had watched in class.
"Having these sort of discussions and being able to talk about these different aspects of the literature and the writing enhanced the trip and the class tenfold," said Martin. "It's just so insightful. It brings a lot to the performances we watched."
Founded three years ago by a group of students with a passion for the playwright, the Shakespeare Club reads, performs scenes and dialogues, and analyzes Shakespeare's works, with a field trip every quarter to a performance or related excursion. The club enriched their experiences in the course and in London, including at a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. A Midsummer Night's Dream was not part of the original course plan.
Stapf, the events coordinator for Shakespeare Club, found the production and worked with Hartnett to secure "immersive tickets" for the group.
They stood at stage level, and the actors wove around and between them to perform on enormous blocks right in front of the students.
"Experiencing all those different types of plays was also really beneficial to the learning of the trip because Shakespeare can take many different forms," said Knudtson. "It was really awesome to see the vastly different productions and ways Shakespeare can be interpreted."
Strolling the streets of London and surrounding towns, the students were also transported directly into scenes from their favorite literary or film works. Some of these excursions indirectly paid homage to Shakespeare himself.
On a free day, Knudtson, Martin, and a small group of students visited the town of Bath, home of the ancient Roman baths, and for a brief stint, English novelist Jane Austen.
Austen herself greatly admired Shakespeare, often alluding to his work in much of her own.
The students toured the baths, enjoyed Regency-period high tea at a restaurant Austen frequented, and hiked around the Bath Skyline Walk.
"I think it was really special seeing where everything happened, walking in the footsteps of people that I've learned about in class," Knudtson said. "That was a very full-circle moment for me, both personally and academically."
Stapf chose to stay closer to London on her free day, but her chosen activity was not devoid of nods to the Bard.
These works of literature have achieved greatness because of the cultural introspection they provide. Shakespeare's words in particular have endured, drawing from universal human themes and experiences while presenting complex narratives open to interpretation. This sense of individualized connection united the students and theater aficionados they encountered, performing a timeless ode to Shakespeare's lasting legacy on the world.
Photos provided by Rose-Hulman faculty and students.