E316 Shakespeare’s Major Plays Syllabus, Fall 2014

SYLLABUS FOR E316 SHAKESPEARE’S MAJOR PLAYS
CSU FULLERTON, FALL 2014

COURSE INFORMATION. English 316, Course Code 15026, Section 1. Tu/Th 1:00 – 2:15 p.m., McCarthy Hall (MH) 49. Instructor: Alfred J. Drake, Ph.D. Office hours: Tu/Th 2:20 – 3:20 p.m. in University Hall (UH) 329. Email: e317_at_ajdrake.com. Catalog: “A study of Shakespeare’s major plays. Units (3). Prereq: English 101 or equivalent. English 316 is a required course for the Bachelor of Arts degree (and for a minor) in English, and it serves as a prerequisite for English 416, an advanced seminar in Shakespeare.”

REQUIRED TEXTS AT TITAN BOOKSTORE

Greenblatt, Stephen et al., eds. The Norton Shakespeare. 2nd ed. Four-Volume Genre Paperback Set. Norton, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-393-93152-5.

OPTIONAL RESOURCES

SHAKESPEARE RESOURCE CENTER’S GUIDE TO ELIZABETHAN GRAMMAR. This excellent offsite guide covers syntax (word order), key rhetorical devices such as antithesis, and usage shifts aside from offering a limited, searchable glossary.

SCHMIDT’S 1902 SHAKESPEARE LEXICON. See also C.T. ONIONS, A SHAKESPEARE GLOSSARY. My Shakespeare site, AJDRAKE.COM/SHAKESPEARE, offers notes to many of the plays. These are good supplements to the Norton notes.

COURSE RATIONALE AND ACTIVITIES

FOCUS AND OBJECTIVES. This course will cover a selection of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories, tragedies and romance plays. We will pay special attention to the playwright’s linguistic and rhetorical excellence and to the structure of his plays, but due attention will also be given to cultural and historical background, biography, stage history, acting methods, and other topics as appropriate. In general, rather than trying to impose claims of universal coherence, thematic unity, etc. on assigned texts, I prefer to discuss themes and issues as they occur throughout the course, making connections where appropriate. Still, I will mention a few areas of interest here: we should explore Shakespeare’s abiding interest with respect to his tragedies in how, over time or due to some set of shocks, entire societies are torn apart, with no reliable way to make them whole. The bittersweet romance plays present a different perspective on this issue of societal decay or dehiscence; on the whole, they deal in second chances, or what we might call “do-overs with differences,” redemption with acknowledgment of serious loss and suffering. In the comedies, we can note the influence through the Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence of Greek New Comedy, the relative stability or instability of individual identity, and the importance of class and social status. With respect to the history plays, of interest is the relative freedom with which Shakespeare rearranges, telescopes, and otherwise alters the historical incidents and characters which he drew largely from Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1577/1587). Finally, for each play, clips from a film production will be shown to illustrate key scenes. I have placed DVD copies of various productions on reserve at the library, so please view as many of the plays as you can.

ACTIVITIES. In class, there will be a mix of lectures, student presentations, whole-class and smaller-group discussion, occasional quizzes, an essay, and a final exam. I encourage questions and comments—class sessions improve when students take an active part. Outside class, do the assigned readings before the relevant discussion dates, complete your journal sets as outlined below, start planning and drafting your essay early, and work on your presentation drafts. In literary studies, the aim is to read and discuss actively and thereby to develop your own voice in response to the texts you read. Insightful interpretation and the ability to make compelling connections are central goals. The essay, discussions, presentations, and journal-keeping should combine to help you work towards these goals.

HOW YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL BE EVALUATED

COURSE POLICIES. Please review the course policies page early in the semester. Key points easily stated here: missing more than 20% of sessions may affect course grade; failing to stay reasonably engaged during sessions may also adversely affect course grade; academic dishonesty on any assignment (journals, presentations, paper, exam) may result in course failure. The four evaluative requirements outlined below must be substantially completed to earn at least a “C” in the course. Since most assignments will be due by email, it is students’ responsibility to contact me promptly if they do not get an email verifying receipt.

PRESENTATIONS REQUIREMENT. At the beginning of the course, students will sign up for one or two 5-7 minute in-class presentations (depending on class size) on assigned plays of their choosing, if possible. Students will select one question from among a range that I indicate on the questions page for the relevant play (as in “any question on Hamlet Act 4,” etc.), and a few days after sign-up I will post a schedule on the Presentations page. Each session will feature one or more presentations. Required: One week in advance of your presentation, email me as full a draft as possible of what you intend to say in class. I will email you back with advice. If I suggest developing the remarks further, email me a revised version at least one day before your in-class presentation. I will assess students’ work based on evidence of prior preparation and consultation as well as the written draft. How to do well: meet with me or email me as required, and send a final written version. Good critics challenge and pose questions, so craft your responses to invite discussion. Use the question as a springboard rather than a prescription. Speak up, but don’t rush. Don’t base what you say mainly on Internet note sites. If you use sources, give due credit. (15-20% of course grade.)

JOURNALS REQUIREMENT. Responses to a choice of questions from the study questions page for each play. Four separate journal sets due by email as specified below in the session schedule. Electronic format required. I will not mark journal sets down unless they are late (maximum grade = B), incomplete, or so brief and derivative as to suggest evasion of intellectual labor: they should consist of honest responses to the assigned readings, not “yes-or-no” style answers, quotation of the assigned texts without further comment, or pasted secondary material from Internet sources. Plagiarizing such sources may result in an “F” for the journal set or even, in egregious cases, for the course. How to do well: read instructions; complete entries as you go through each text; send sets on time, making sure I verify receipt; respond with a thoughtful paragraph on each chosen question. Use your own words and refer to the texts’ specific language. (30% of course grade.)

TERM PAPER REQUIREMENT. By the beginning of Week 13 (Monday 11/17) a one-paragraph description addressing the general topic and specific argument of the projected paper will be due by email. (Full rough drafts are also encouraged.) Not providing this description on time may affect the final draft grade. Please read the term paper instructions carefully since they contain the general prompt, suggested topics, and advance draft comments. I reserve the right to require proof of the final paper’s authenticity, such as notes or an early draft. Final draft (5-7 pages) due as specified towards the bottom of the syllabus page. There is no need to consider this a research paper, though you are free to make it one. CSUF academic integrity policies apply.

FINAL EXAM REQUIREMENT. The exam will consist of substantive id passages (33% of exam), mix-and-match questions (match phrase or concept x to speaker/play y; 33% of exam), and key lecture points paired with substantive quotations from the assigned texts (33% of exam). There will be more choices than required responses. Books and notes allowed for all sections, but no laptops. Students may not share books or notes during the exam. How to do well: read the online prep. sheet; take good notes and ask questions/make comments; above all, enjoy the plays rather than thinking of them only as test material. (20% of course grade.)

EMAILING ASSIGNMENTS. Email journals, presentations, and term paper as attachments. Don’t send more than one document in the same email. Label subject lines appropriately: “E316 Journal 1, Jane Rodriguez” etc. You can paste journal sets into a regular email or send them as an attachment. (Journal “sets” include responses to questions about several authors or plays; do not send entries on each author in a given set separately; combine them into one document.) Contact me if you don’t receive prompt email confirmation.

STUDY QUESTIONS FOR JOURNALS AND PRESENTATIONS

*2023 Note. Visitors may download the following questions in PDF format: SHAKESPEARE QUESTIONS.

SCHEDULE: WORKS DISCUSSED ON DATES INDICATED

WEEK 1

Note: At relevant points, read the Norton General Introduction to Shakespeare (1-99) as well as the Introductions to Comedy (103-18), Tragedy (103-14), History (103-15), and Romance (103-17) in the respective volumes. Introductions to the specific plays are also assigned.

Tu. 08/26. Course Introduction and Brief Introduction to Shakespeare.

Th. 08/28. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-96; Acts 1-2, Comedies 377-92).

WEEK 2

Tu. 09/02. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-96; Acts 3-5, Comedies 392-424).

Th. 09/04. The Merchant of Venice (1596-97; Act 1, Comedies 435-45).

WEEK 3

Tu. 09/09. The Merchant of Venice (1596-97; Acts 2-3, Comedies 445-73).

Th. 09/11. The Merchant of Venice (1596-97; Acts 4-5, Comedies 473-89).

WEEK 4

Tu. 09/16. As You Like It (1599; Acts 1-2 Comedies 631-54).

Th. 09/18. As You Like It (1599; Act 3 Comedies 655-69).

WEEK 5

Tu. 09/23. As You Like It (1599; Acts 4-5 Comedies 670-87).

Th. 09/25. Measure for Measure (1604; Acts 1-2, Comedies 850-74).

JOURNAL SET 1 DUE BY EMAIL MONDAY 9/29. (Reminder: this set includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream through and including As You Like It. Respond with a full paragraph to 6 questions on each play spanning at least three acts. I will verify receipt by email within a few days.)

WEEK 6

Tu. 09/30. Measure for Measure (1604; Acts 3-5, Comedies 874-910).

Th. 10/02. Titus Andronicus (1593-94; Act 1, Tragedies 124-35).

WEEK 7

Tu. 10/07. Titus Andronicus (1593-94; Acts 2-3, Tragedies 135-55).

Th. 10/09. Titus Andronicus (1593-94; Acts 4-5, Tragedies 155-79).

WEEK 8

Tu. 10/14. Hamlet (1600-01; Act 1, Tragedies 336-56).

Th. 10/16. Hamlet (1600-01; Acts 2-3, Tragedies 356-92).

WEEK 9

Tu. 10/21. Hamlet (1600-01; Acts 4-5, Tragedies 393-424).

Th. 10/23. King Lear (1605; Act 1, Tragedies Intro 571-81, conflated text 739-59).

JOURNAL SET 2 DUE BY EMAIL MONDAY 10/27. (Reminder: this set includes Measure for Measure through and including Hamlet. Respond with a full paragraph to 6 questions on each play spanning at least three acts.)

WEEK 10

Tu. 10/28. King Lear (1605; Acts 2-3, Tragedies Intro 571-81, conflated text 759-87).

Th. 10/30. King Lear (1605; Acts 4-5, Tragedies Intro 571-81, conflated text 787-813).

WEEK 11

Tu. 11/04. Coriolanus (1607-08; Acts 1-3, Tragedies 978-1027).

Th. 11/06. Coriolanus (1607-08; Acts 4-5, Tragedies 1027-56).

WEEK 12

Tu. 11/11. Veterans’ Day Holiday, No Classes.

Th. 11/13. The Winter’s Tale (1610-11; Acts 1-2, Romances and Poems 202-26).

PARAGRAPH ON TOPIC AND ARG. FOR PAPER DUE BY EMAIL 11/17.

WEEK 13

Tu. 11/18. The Winter’s Tale (1610-11; Acts 3-4, Romances and Poems 226-59).

Th. 11/20. The Winter’s Tale (1610-11; Act 5, Romances and Poems 259-71).

JOURNAL SET 3 DUE BY EMAIL MONDAY 11/24. (Reminder: this set includes King Lear through and including The Winter’s Tale. Respond with a full paragraph to 6 questions on each play spanning at least three acts.)

WEEK 14

Tu. 11/25. Fall Recess. No Classes.

Th. 11/28. Fall Recess. No Classes.

WEEK 15

Tu. 12/02. The Tempest (1611; Acts 1-2, Romances and Poems 374-401).

Th. 12/04. The Tempest (1611; Acts 3-5, Romances and Poems 401-425).

WEEK 16

Tu. 12/09. Henry VIII (1612-13; Acts 1-2, Histories 857-91).

Th. 12/11. Henry VIII (1612-13; Acts 3-5, Histories 891-929).

JOURNAL SET 4 DUE BY PAPER DUE DATE. (Reminder: this set includes The Tempest through and including Henry VIII. Respond with a full paragraph to 6 questions on each play spanning at least three acts.)

FINALS WEEK

Final Exam Date: Tuesday, December 16 from 12:00 – 1:50 p.m. Due by email by Monday, December 22: Term Paper. (I must turn in grades by Friday, January 2, 2015.) For your other courses, check CSUF’S Final Exam Schedule. Please pay attention to your school email even after final exams. Otherwise, you may miss important notifications about course materials not received, etc.

SYLLABUS FOR E316 SHAKESPEARE’S MAJOR PLAYSCSU FULLERTON, FALL 2014