ENGL 339: Introduction to Shakespeare
Dr. Debora B. Schwartz

Calendar, Fall, 2000

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Week 1    (September 19-21)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
Introduction and background; initial handouts. GWR evaluative writing sample administered during office hours.
Day 2
Handouts: "Humanist Education," "Comedy" (which includes Study questions and Video questions for A Midsummer Night's Dream) and "Shakespearean Verse and Prose." Textbook: A Midsummer Night's Dream. "Shakespeare: An Overview" (vii-lxi); "Introduction" (lxiii-lxxvi); "Textual Note" and "A Note on the Source of A Midsummer Night's Dream" (87-91). Also read all of Act 1, A Midsummer Night's Dream (2-16). 

Week 2    (September 26-28)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
A Midsummer Night's Dream. READING QUIZ. Finish WHOLE PLAY by class. "Dramatic Plot Structure."

NOTE: Joseph Papp's film (165 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by class time, 9/28. Remember that you must complete eight required VIDEO QUESTIONS both before AND after the screening. 

Group screenings T 9/26 at ? PM and W 9/27 at ? PM in room 202 of the library, or see on your own (available ONLY in Learning Resources Center and at the Santa Maria public library; not at local video stores).
Day 2
MND cont. Recommended Readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 92-147. 

Video discussion.  BRING YOUR TYPED UP ANSWERS TO THE EIGHT REQUIRED VIDEO QUESTIONS WITH YOU TO CLASS.

 

Week 3    (October 3-5)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
"Pastoral Poetry" (handout), As You Like It (whole text), "Introduction" (lxiii-lxxv), "Textual Note" and "The Source of As You Like It (105-110).   READING QUIZ.   Finish WHOLE PLAY by class time. 
Day 2
AYLI (continued).   Recommended Readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 147-213.

 

Week 4    (October 10-12)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
AYLI, conclusion. START READING HENRY V!! Read at least "The Histories" (handout), Introduction (lxiii-lxxvi); "Textual Note" and "The Sources of Henry V (129-134); and all of Act 1 (3-19). BRING BOTH BOOKS TO CLASS!
Day 2
Henry V. Finish WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 

NOTE: Laurence Olivier's film (136 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by class time, Th 10/19. Group screenings at ? PM on T 10/17 and at ? PM on W 10/18 in library 202, or see on your own. (Also available for rental in some local video stores, including Crossroads, Insomniac and Studio Video in SLO.)

 

Week 5    (October 17-19)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
HV cont.  Handout:  Olivier on Henry V (read prior to screening). 

Recommended Readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 171-225.
Day 2
HV, video discussion and wrap up. BRING YOUR TYPED UP ANSWERS TO THE EIGHT REQUIRED VIDEO QUESTIONS WITH YOU TO CLASS.

"Problems With Shakespeare's Texts" (handout). 

PAPER 1 DUE.

Week 6    (October 24-26)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
MIDTERM EXAM. 

BRING EXAM BOOK FOR ESSAY SECTION! (GWR certification possible.)
Day 2
 Macbeth. Finish WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 

Also read: "Tragedy" (handout); Introduction, lxiii-lxxiv; "Textual Note" and "The Source of Macbeth (99-104).

 

Week 7    (October 31-November 2)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
MAC cont.  Recommended Readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 121-200.
Day 2
Wrap-up, MAC (as needed, no more than first 1/2 hour). 

Hamlet: at LEAST Introduction (lxiii-xcii), "A Note on the Texts of Hamlet" (145-161), "A Note on the Sources of Hamlet" (167-170), and Acts 1-2 (2-60). 

BRING BOTH BOOKS TO CLASS!

NOTE: Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (145 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by Th 11/9. Group screenings T 11/7 at ? PM and Wednesday 11/8 at ? PM in library 202, or see on your own. (Also available for rental in several local video stores, including Insomniac and Studio Video in SLO.)
 

 

Week 8    (November 7-9)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
Hamlet. Finish WHOLE PLAY (and background readings listed under wk. 7 day 2) by class time. READING QUIZ.
Day 2
HAM continued. Recommended Readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 171-256. Video discussion.

 

Week 9    (November 14-16)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
The Tempest. Read WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 

Also: "The Romances" (handout); Introduction, lxiii-lxxvii; "Textual Note" and "The Sources of The Tempest (89-93).
Day 2
CLASS PERIOD RESERVED FOR WORK ON END-OF-CLASS PERFORMANCES

Week 10a   (November 21-23)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
TEMP cont.  Also REQUIRED READING: all sources printed pp. 93-105.

Recommended Readings: one or more Commentaries, 106-190.
Day 2
 NO CLASS--HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Week 10b (November 28-30)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
FIRST HOUR (or as needed): TEMP wrap-up. 

SECOND HOUR: PERFORMANCES. 

PAPER TWO DUE.
Day 2
More PERFORMANCES; Elizabethan Festivities; review for exam.

Final Exams Tuesday, December 5; section 339-03 (meets 9-11) from 10:10-1:00; section 339-04 (meets 12-2) from 1:10-4:00.  You MUST take Final Exam at scheduled time!!