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

Calendar, Fall, 2002
Week  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Week 1    (September 24-26)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
Introduction and background; initial handouts. GWR evaluative writing sample administered by request during office hours.
Day 2
Online Readings: "Humanist Education," "Comedy," "Problems with Shakespeare's Texts" and "Shakespearean Verse and Prose." From the 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    (October 1-3)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
A Midsummer Night's Dream. READING QUIZ. Finish WHOLE PLAY by class. "Dramatic Plot Structure"(online reading).

NOTE: Joseph Papp's film (165 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by class time, 10/3. Remember that you must complete eight required VIDEO QUESTIONS (four before, four after the screening). 

Group screenings T 10/1 at 6 PM and W 10/2 at 6 PM in room 202 of the library, or see on your own (to my knowledge, available ONLY at Cal Poly Library's Learning Resources Center and through Santa Maria Public Library; not at local video stores).
Day 2
A Midsummer Night's Dream 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 8-10)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
"Pastoral Poetry" (online reading); As You Like It (whole text), plus the "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
As You Like It (continued).   Recommended readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 147-213.

 

Week 4    (October 15-17)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
As You Like It, conclusion.  "The Histories" (online reading) and Act I of Henry V (2-21), as well as "Introduction" (lxiii-lxxvi); "Textual Note" and "The Sources of Henry V (129-134). 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 10/24. Group screenings at 6 PM on T 10/22 and at 6 PM on W 10/23 at 6 PM 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 22-24)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
Henry V cont.  Handout:  Olivier on Henry V (read prior to screening). 

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

Week 6    (October 29-31)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
PAPER 1 DUE.

READING DAY for exam; no formal class after turning in papers; review session possible.
Day 2
MIDTERM EXAM. 

BRING LARGE FORMAT EXAM BOOK FOR ESSAY SECTION! (GWR certification possible.)

 

Week 7    (November 5-7)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
Macbeth. Finish WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 

Also read: "Tragedy" (online reading), and in the text: "Introduction," lxiii-lxxiv; "Textual Note" and "The Source of Macbeth (99-104).
Day 2
 
Macbeth cont.  Recommended readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 121-200.

 

Week 8    (November12-14)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
Hamlet: Finish WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 

Also read: "Revenge Tragedy" and "Establishing the Text of Hamlet" (online readings), and in the text: Introduction (lxiii-xcii); "A Note on the Texts of Hamlet" (145-61); "A Note on the Sources of Hamlet" (167-70).  Review "Problems With Shakespeare's Texts" (online reading). 

NOTE: Laurence Olivier's Hamlet (145 min.) is REQUIRED VIEWING by T 11/19. Group screenings Friday 11/15 at 2 PM and Monday 11/18 at 6 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.)
Day 2
Hamlet continued. Recommended readings: one or more of the Commentaries, 171-256. 

 

Week 9    (November 19-21)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
Hamlet, wrap-up and video discussion.
Day 2
The Tempest.  Read WHOLE PLAY by class time. READING QUIZ. 

Also: "The Romances" and "Blackfriars Theater and Audience Expectations" (online readings), and in the text: "Introduction," lxiii-lxxvii; "Textual Note" and "The Sources of The Tempest (89-93). 

 

Week 10a   (November 26-28)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
The Tempest, cont.  Also REQUIRED READING: ALL SOURCES printed in the text, Signet Classics pp. 91-105.

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

Week 10b (December 3-5)
 
Topic and Readings
Day 1
FIRST HOUR (or as needed): The Tempest wrap-up. 

SECOND HOUR: PERFORMANCES. 
Day 2
More PERFORMANCES; Elizabethan Festivities; review for exam.

PAPER TWO DUE.

Final Exam Tuesday, December 10; section 339-01 (meets 9-11) from 10:10-1:00; section 339-02 (meets 2-4) from 4:10-7:00.  You MUST take Final Exam at scheduled time!!

Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1996-2002