TEXTS: Signet and Folger paperback editions of individual plays. Mimeographed materials to be provided.
NB: Remember to make weekly journal entries. Always be prepared for unannounced quizzes.
| 13 January | Introduction: "Shakespeare's Theater." | Exercises in class based on a web page with links to sites containing photographs and information relating to the theater in Shakespeare's day. |
| 20 January | The Two Gentlemen of Verona. | DUE: Journal. Prompt: What are some key ways in which the female
characters differ from the male characters? DUE: An annotated list of at least three statements in 1.2.106-30 (include the statements, as well as your annotations) which give the actress playing Julia specific hints for what she is supposed to do during the soliloquy (do not include the stage directions, editorial or otherwise). |
| 27 January | Romeo and Juliet. English 442 Web Site (imagery in Romeo and Juliet). |
DUE: Journal. Prompts (choose one): (1) How are Acts 1-3 similar to a Shakespearean romantic comedy? (2) What evidence is there concerning the relative "maturity," "strength of character," etc., of Romeo and Juliet? (3) If you have seen the recent film of the play, how successful an "interpretation" is it? |
| 3 February | Much Ado about Nothing. Notice particularly the characters of Benedick and Beatrice, their developing relationship, and the contrast between the Bendick-Beatrice plot and the Claudio-Hero plot. ("Hero" is a Greek name for a woman.) |
DUE: Journal. Prompt: How do the Benedick-Beatrice and Hero-Claudio plots represent different views of "love," "romance," the character of women in the Elizabethan period, etc.? |
| 10 February | Videotape of Much Ado about Nothing. | Discussion of the production after viewing. |
| 17 February | EXAMINATION 1, including
introductory lecture on the Elizabethan theater. Introduction to creating web pages for group project. |
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| 24 February | The Merchant of Venice. Videotape excerpts on the character of Shylock. |
DUE: Journal. Prompt: Is Shylock a villain, a victim, or both? |
| 3 March | Twelfth Night. | DUE: Journal. Prompt: What
elements of the theme of self-knowledge (or the lack of it) or the theme of excess do you
notice in Orsino, Olivia, Sir Toby, or Sir Andrew? DUE: Paper 1. Confer with the teacher in advance with respect to topic and approach. |
| 10 March | Videotape of Hamlet or Henry V. | Discussion of the production after viewing. |
| [17 March] | SPRING BREAK | "Let's have one other gaudy [joyful] night! . . . Let's mock the midnight bell!" (Antony and Cleopatra) |
| 24 March | Measure for Measure. | DUE: Journal. Prompts (choose one): (1) Is Isabella right to refuse Angelo's offer? (2) In what sense is Angelo's name ironic (explain fully and specifically)? (3) In what sense or to what extent are Isabella and Angelo (surprisingly) similar in character? |
| 31 March | EXMINATION 2. DUE: Informal, but substantive oral reports on progress made toward web page projects. |
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| 7 April | King Lear. | DUE: Journal. Prompts (choose one): (1) In what ways does the Gloucester subplot resemble the main Lear plot? (2) Is Cordelia (perhaps in contrast to her sisters) weak and passive or strong and independent? (3) What light does the play shed on the topic of old age? |
| 14 April | Othello. Cinthio, Hecatommithi (in Signet edition). |
DUE: Journal. Prompts
(choose one): (1) What role does Othello's race play in his tragedy? (2) Is Dedemona
mainly passive and weak or active and strong in the play? (3) Why does Iago act as he does
(study his soliloquies particularly carefully)? Or compare the play with Cinthio's story. DUE: Paper 2. Confer with the teacher in advance with respect to topic and approach. |
| 21 April | Videotape of Othello. | Discussion of the production after viewing. |
| 28 April | DUE: Web page projects. Demonstration in class. |
| 5 May, 8 AM | EXAMINATION 3, including The Tempest, and COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAMINATION. |