Lecture, three hours. Preparation: reading knowledge of one appropriate foreign language. Broad introduction to subject matter and types of plays in Renaissance, with consideration of historical and literary influences on plays. Readings include works of such dramatists as Tasso, Machiavelli, Lope de Vega, Racine, Jonson, Shakespeare. May be concurrently scheduled with course C122. Graduate students required to prepare papers based on texts read in original languages and to meet as group one additional hour each week. S/U or letter grading.