Shakespeare: Engl 533

This course surveys Shakespeare's career through close readings of representative plays and poems. In order to acquaint ourselves with Shakespeare's stylistic complexity, we will begin with Romeo and Juliet, paying close attention to sentence structure, line clusters, image patterns, multiple meanings, and so on. We will then move on to the later plays and sonnets, reading examples of Shakespeare's most popular works. Although our major focus will be on the works themselves, we will also consider their relation to various aspects of Renaissance culture, such as contemporary attitudes towards marriage, religion, and politics. In the case of the plays, we will attend as well to issues of performance.

The basic goal of this course is to increase your confidence and enjoyment in reading, discussing, and writing about Shakespeare. You should read the assigned works, think about them, and come to class prepared to discuss them. To achieve the best results you should read individual plays and poems at least twice. And take your time when reading: Shakespeare's works have survived in part because they speak a language of feeling that can only be appreciated by an investment of your own emotional and intellectual energy. As you read, you should keep track of questions and ideas. In other words, you should not only read the material, but also begin thinking about it. As the process of garnering meaning from literature is a communal one, class shall be structured around your contributions as much as possible.

Required Texts:

The Norton Shakespeare, ed. Stephen Greenblatt
Romance and Poems
Tragedies
Comedies
Recommended: Will in the World, by Stephen Greenblatt

Course Requirements:

Quizzes: 10% each
Exams (2): 20% each
Final Paper: 20%
Sonnet Transformation: 20%
Participation/Attendance 10%

Quizzes: Reading quizzes will be held weekly/biweekly throughout the semester. These quizzes will be unannounced and fairly easy; their basic function is to ensure that you have read the text before class.

Midterm and Final Exam: This course requires a midterm and final exam. Both exams will be administered through Blackboard. Class will not meet on scheduled exam days. The exams will include all the material covered in the reading assignments and class lectures. Questions will range from the historical to the literary; you may also be asked to identify major passages and to comment upon them. Exams may not be made up, nor can they be taken on a date other than that listed in the schedule.

Paper: A 5-7 page paper on one of the plays will be due at the end of the semester. Specific essay question options will be distributed as the due date approaches.

Sonnet Transformation: A creative project in which you read one of Shakespeare's sonnets and apply a photographic and musical background will be due Week Twelve and presented to the class. You will work with a partner or small group toward the final presentation. Formats for sonnet transformations may include Powerpoint,, I-movie, or any other digital video format. Details will be distributed later.

Participation/Attendance: This class is a seminar, which means that student discussion and participation are central components of the course structure. Your attendance is mandatory; absences will affect your final course grade. In addition, you are expected to have read all materials scheduled to be discussed in class that day ahead of time. Please come to class prepared to discuss core issues, themes, and ideas.

Schedule:

Week One
T: Introduction
Th: Sonnets 1-50

Week Two
T: Romeo and Juliet, Act I
W: Romeo and Juliet, Act II-III

Week Three
T: Romeo and Juliet, Act III-IV
TH: Romeo and Juliet, Act IV-V

Week Four
T: Sonnets 50-100
Th: As You Like It, Acts I-II

Week Five

T: As You Like It, Acts III-IV
TH: As You Like It, Act V

Week Six
T: Midsummer Night’s Dream I-II
TH: Midsummer Night’s Dream III-IV

Week Seven
T: Midsummer Night’s Dream V
TH: Midsummer continued

Week Eight
T: Midterm Exam
Th: Sonnets 100-144

Week Nine
T: Hamlet I
TH: Hamlet II

Week Ten
T: Hamlet III
TH: Hamlet IV

Week Eleven
T: Hamlet V
TH: Hamlet continued. Paper topics distributed.

Week Twelve
T: Sonnet workshop day—meet with partners
Th: Sonnet Transformations due

Week Thirteen
T: Sonnet Transformations
Th: Thanksgiving

Week Fourteen
T: Tempest I-II
Th: Tempest II-III

Week Fifteen
T: Tempest III-IV
Th: Tempest IV-V. PAPERS DUE

Final Exam: Thursday, December 14 online