English 305
Section 1 [H]
Summer 2003 — (June 23 – August 1)
SLN 14118
MTWThF 10:30 – 11:45
Thompson 21
Dr. Michael Delahoyde
Avery Hall 355 — Washington State University
Hours: TWTh 9:00 – 10:15, and by appointment.
Phone: 335-4832
E-mail: delahoyd@wsu.edu
Shakespeare
Course Description:
This course will focus primarily on Shakespeare’s earlier plays, comedies and histories, including those that you could see performed this season in the Pacific Northwest (local campuses, Ashland’s Shakespeare Festival, movie theaters, etc.) if you were so inclined. If you’re taking Shakespeare the plunge for the first time, fear not: this course will be relatively non-threatening and usually merciful. If you’re “brushing up your Shakespeare,” here is an assortment of mostly greater and some lesser works of the Bard. If you may have to teach some Shakespeare eventually, you’re not alone and we’ll keep this in mind. If you are taking this class because you vaguely suspect you should, you’re probably right.
We’ll shoot for both some general coverage of earlier Shakespeare, for consideration of the big biographical question (be warned — I’m a heretic), and for close focus on several plays (including several chosen by the class).
A recently published book on Shakespeare asserts what has been the consensus for centuries: that Shakespeare essentially created our conception of what a human being is, of human psychology and human relationships. In other words, Shakespeare created us. Therefore, I want some answers from this mini-semester, Billy! Therapy is too expensive.
Course Objectives:
To gain exposure to Renaissance (or Early Modern) thought, poetic craft, and drama by poring over the works of one rather well-known English author.
To increase intellectual maturation and clarification of our own values through examination of ideas and attitudes in literary/cultural contexts and through articulation of these.
To develop skills in verbal analysis and detection of subtlety through reading, discussion, and writing about some tricky literature.
Required Text:
The Riverside Shakespeare. 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997.
This is the text ordered at the Bookie. You would, however, be fine with any scholarly edition(s), even the Signet or Penguin paperbacks, for the individual plays if you lack the arm strength and can track them down individually (usually not difficult–even malls have Shakespeare), so long as you have act, scene, and line numbers in your responsible edition for proper documention of the following plays:
- As You Like It
- The Merchant of Venice
- Henry V
- and other plays to be elected by the class.
Course Requirements:
A significant part of your life this mini-semester has to become Shakespeare studies. Studying this stuff can be demanding, but at least we’ll be doing it together as a “learning community.” Because classroom interaction is essential for this to be a valuable experience, and because frequent quizzes and homework writings will be exchanged and no late assignments of any sort will be accepted, more than a few absences will affect your grade regardless of reason. Heres the math:
I will frequently ask for relatively minor homework assignments to be turned in, designed primarily to stimulate subsequent discussion [although it will arise anyway because the readings are so provocative (i.e., cool)] and to practice conventions for writing about literature. At other times I will ask you to answer questions in writing in class, often ad lib responses to the reading before class discussion begins. Homework assignments and quizzes will receive numerical grades (points) and, although these writings cannot be made up (except for a couple optional writings that can take their place), the final semester totals will be curved if necessary.(30%)
You will submit two written projects of manageable length.(30%)
Your presence will be kindly requested at two exams.(30%)
Class participation and other service to the learning community will be expected (occasional group work, for example, or peer responses). (10%)
English 305
Section 1 [H]
Summer 2003 — (June 23 – August 1)
SLN 14118
MTWThF 10:30 – 11:45
Thompson 21
Dr. Michael Delahoyde
Avery Hall 355 — Washington State University
Hours: TWTh 9:00 – 10:15, and by appointment.
Phone: 509-335-4832
E-mail: delahoyd@wsu.edu
Shakespeare Syllabus
[We will often be reading plays selected by the class.
The syllabus below is therefore only a rough outline of the semester.]
June 23 — Introductions & Images.
June 24 — Background; The Taming of the Shrew: Induction, Act I.
June 25 — The Taming of the Shrew: Act II.
June 26 — The Taming of the Shrew: Act III.
June 27 — The Taming of the Shrew: Act IV.June 30 — The Taming of the Shrew: Act V.
July 1 — The Authorship Question: Snazzy PowerPoint Presentation.
July 2 — Julius Caesar: Act I.
July 3 — Julius Caesar: Act II.July 7 — Julius Caesar: Act III.
July 8 — Julius Caesar: Act IV.
July 9 — Julius Caesar: Act V.
July 10 — Midterm Exam.
July 11 — Much Ado About Nothing: Act I; Project #1 Due.July 14 — Much Ado About Nothing: Act II.
July 15 — Much Ado About Nothing: Acts III & IV.
July 16 — Much Ado About Nothing: Act V.
July 17 — The History Plays.
July 18 — As You Like It: Act I.July 21 — As You Like It: Act II.
July 22 — As You Like It: Act III.
July 23 — As You Like It: Acts IV & V.
July 24 — Shakespearathon Games.
July 25 — Much Needed Vacation Day.July 28 — Lucrece.
July 29 — A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Acts I & II.
July 30 — A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Acts III & IV; Project #2 Due.
July 31 — A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Act V; Last Words.
August 1 — Final Shakespeararama 2003.
Dr. Michael Delahoyde, Senior Instructor, Department of English
delahoyd@wsu.edu
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This site last updated 23 July 2003.