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Welcome back to The Invisible College, my series of literature courses for paid subscribers. The introduction to and schedule for the 2025 season is here. The 2024 archive is here. This episode, of which the first 10 minutes are free, is the first in an eight-week sequence on the plays of Shakespeare. It deals extensively with Shakespeare’s historical, cultural, religious, political, social, literary, media, and theatrical context. Then we consider the early comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream as an exhibit of Shakespeare’s metatheater, his lyricism, his depth of characterization, his cultural syncretism, and his implicit reflection on the nature and power of poetry. Please like, share, comment, and subscribe! The slideshow corresponding to the episode can be downloaded behind the paywall: