Texts for the Course
I'd like you to buy the Folger Shakespeare Library edition of all the texts. They are published by Washington Square Press. They are extremely readable, the notes are helpful without being distracting, the essays are solid, and they are inexpensive. We will be using these texts in class, so if you have another edition, you may have to scramble a bit to find the lines we are discussing. In addition to these texts, I want you to buy Stephen Greenblatt's wonderful discussion of Shakespeare and his Times. The text is below
King Lear
Pericles
Romeo and Juliet
Sonnets
The Taming of the Shrew
Troilus and Cressida
Will in the World, by Stephen Greenblatt
Course Description
This class will focus on selected works by Willliam Shakespeare. We will begin the course with a study of the wonderfully concise form of poetry known as the sonnet--and, in particular, how Shakespeare shaped this poetic form for his own creative purposes. Through these sonnets, we will come in contact with some of Shakespeare's major themes: the ravages of time on the individual, the search for immortality through poetry, the joys and agonies of love, and the value of friendship. Through our discussions of the sonnet, we will study the poet's rich language, as well as his poetic innovations with the form.
Following our study of the sonnet, we will read and discuss the following plays: The Taming of the Shrew, Troilus and Cressida, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and Pericles.
As a backdrop to this literature, we will also look at the historical, political, and religious temper of the times, a period replete with intrigue, espionage, religious tension--an historical era that also saw England threatened by civil war, as well as threats of invasions by France and Spain. Central to this historical background is Queen Elizabeth I, the last of the Tudor line of rulers in England, a brilliant, high-strung ruler who reigned through a period in which the English language was well on the way to achieving its richness, in which the English theater acquired its international reputation, and in which the English military and economy rose to be one of the strongest on the globe.
This course will be rich in material, and with your help, it should be challenging and stimulating, as well as a lot of fun.
The Honor Code
This code stipulates that when independent work is required—as it is on your essays—each of you does that work within the boundaries that I set. See my web site on "Plagiarism" for clarification of how the honor code applies to your written work. Failure to adhere to this code will cause a breach in the healthy academic environment of trust that I wish to foster in this class. It will also lead to your failing the course. Your continuing in this class will tell me that you abide by the honor code as I have set it forth here and on the above-mentioned web link.
The Goals
Evaluation
You will be evaluated two ways: through essays and oral reports. You will write four essays, as noted below. The essays will be argumentative and analytical, requiring critical thinking and interpretation; they will be at least one thousand words apiece. The oral reports will be based on topics that I provide. Each report will be at least fifteen minutes. The oral reports will have the value of one essay. One caveat about the reports: you may use Powerpoint, the internet, note cards, pictures, or whatever else you need to present your material, but you are not to read the reports to the class.
Syllabus
8/27 |
Introduction to the Class; Shakespeare's Sonnets: 1-17, 18-20 |
|---|---|
9/3 |
Sonnets 22-23, 29-31, 34, 37, 40-42, 53, 56 |
9/10 |
Sonnets Continued: 60, 62, 64, 68, 71, 76, 79, 99, 104, 116, 126 |
9/17 |
Sonnets Concluded: 127-136, 138, 144-147, 151-154 |
9/24 |
The Taming of the Shrew |
10/1 |
The Taming of the Shrew |
10/8 |
Romeo and Juliet |
10/15 |
Romeo and Juliet |
10/22 |
Troilus and Cressida |
10/29 |
Troilus and Cressida |
11/5 |
King Lear |
11/12 |
King Lear |
11/19 |
King Lear |
| 11/26 | Thanksgiving Holiday -- No Class |
12/3 |
Pericles |
12/10 |
Pericles |
12/17 |
Pericles |
Your first essay will deal with Shakespeare's sonnets. The essay is due on September 24. If you can't turn it in on that date, you may submit it on October 1, but it will be considered a late paper, and the grade will be lowered by one full grade.
Your second essay will deal with either The Taming of the Shrew or Romeo and Juliet. The due date for the essay is October 22. If you can't turn it in on that date, the late date is October 29, with the same grade penalty as mentioned for the first essay.
Your third essay will deal with King Lear. The due date is December 3. The late date, with a grade penalty, is December 10, with the same grade penalty as mentioned above.
Your fourth essay will deal with Pericles. It is due date is on December 17. There is no late date for this essay.
The oral report.