Coriolanus

Analyze the character of Volumnia. How is she characterized? How does she both reinforce and undermine The Problem of Masculine Violence in the play?

How does Shakespeare portray the idea of class conflict in this play? How do these internal, hierarchical divisions shape Roman society and/or threaten it?

Compare and contrast the characters of Coriolanus and Aufidius. How does the dynamic of their relationship evolve over the course of the play? In what ways are they different or similar?

Closely analyze Coriolanus’s character arc. Is he a dynamic character who changes over the course of the play, or ultimately a static one? How does his character development—or lack thereof—help to illuminate some of the play’s key themes and ideas?

Explore how power and power dynamics are depicted in the play. What does the play suggest about the different forms of power in Rome, and/or the nature of power more generally?

Examine how the play explores the tensions between the civic sphere and the martial one. In what ways are the ideals and values of each sphere similar to one another? In what ways do they clash or contrast with one another?

Discuss the recurring use of voices and public speech throughout Coriolanus. What is the role and wider significance of speech acts in this play?

Compare Coriolanus to another one of Shakespeare’s Roman plays, such as Julius Caesar or Titus Andronicus. How is the depiction of Rome and Roman society different or similar in these texts? What key themes and ideas do they explore?