Part 1: Disc 1: Lecture 1. Shakespeare then and now ; Lecture 2. The nature of Shakespeare's plays ; Lecture 3. Twelfth Night: Shakespearean comedy ; Lecture 4. Twelfth Night: Malvolio in love ; Lecture 5. The Taming of the Shrew: getting married in the 1590s ; Lecture 6. The Taming of the Shrew: farce and romance -- Disc 2: Lecture 7. The Merchant of Venice: courting the heiress ; Lecture 8. The Merchant of Venice: Shylock ; Lecture 9. Measure for Measure: sex in society ; Lecture 10. Measure for Measure: justice and comedy ; Lecture 11. Richard III: Shakespearean history ; Lecture 12. Richard III: the villain's career.

Disc 3: Lecture 13. Richard II: the theory of kingship ; Lecture 14. Richard II: the fall of the king ; Lecture 15. Henry IV: all the king's men ; Lecture 16. Henry IV: the life of Falstaff ; Lecture 17. Henry V: the death of Falstaff ; Lecture 18. Henry V: the king victorious -- Part 2: Disc 4: Lecture 19. Romeo and Juliet: Shakespearean tragedy ; Lecture 20. Romeo and Juliet: public violence and private bliss ; Lecture 21. Troilus and Cressida: ancient epic in a new mode ; Lecture 22. Troilus and Cressida: heroic aspirations ; Lecture 23. Julius Caesar: the matter of Rome ; Lecture 24. Julius Caesar: heroes of history.

Part 3: Disc 5: Lecture 25. Hamlet: the abundance of the play ; Lecture 26. Hamlet: the causes of tragedy ; Lecture 27. Hamlet: the Protestant hero ; Lecture 28. Othello: the design of the tragedy ; Lecture 29. Othello: "O villainy!" ; Lecture 30. Othello: the noble Moor -- Disc 6: Lecture 31. King Lear: "This is the worst" ; Lecture 32. King Lear: wisdom through suffering ; Lecture 33. King Lear: "Then we go on" ; Lecture 34. Macbeth: "Fair is foul" ; Lecture 35. Macbath: musing on murder ; Lecture 36. Macbeth: "Enter two murderers."