Instructor: Joseph Hogan
Office: Heide 431
Phone: 472-5048
E-mail: hoganj@uwwvax.uww.edu
Home Page: http://facstaff.uww.edu/hoganj/hoganhom.htm
Office Hours: MWF 9:50-10:50, W 2:05-4:00, and by appointment
In this course we will be focusing on the plays of William Shakespeare. We will be exploring various ways of reading and thinking about the plays both as living drama and within their historical context. We will look at the aesthetics of his work, concentrating on formal issues. At the same time we will look at one of his great themes: love. We will see how this theme is developed in his comedies (A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, and As You Like It), then his tragedies (Othello and Antony and Cleopatra), and finally in his romance (A Winter's Tale).
Text for the Course:
From the Textbook Library:
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare. New York:
Norton, 1997.
Work for the Course:
Papers: Two 7-10 page (1750-2500 word) critical papers.
These will be based on a list of suggested questions/topics devised
by me. They must be typed.
In-class writing assignments: These will usually be done
each time we discuss a new work. You will spend the first 30
to 45 minutes of class writing on an assigned question or topic
about the reading. The purpose of these assignments is to get
you to start thinking about the work, to help you develop your
own approach to the subject, and to provide material for class
discussion. If you miss one of these, it must be made up by the
following week.
Short out-of-class position papers: These will be similar
to the in-class writing assignments, but the topic will be assigned
the previous week. If they are not turned in on the assigned
date, the grade will be dropped one letter grade.
Various group projects: Groups will be asked to perform
certain scenes from the plays, develop a position on a particular
topic, etc.
Class participation: You are expected to not only attend
class and to keep up with the assignments, but also to talk in
class. You will be penalized one letter grade for each unexcused
absence after the first one (thus two unexcused absences will
drop a grade of A to B. Lack of full participation in class may
be considered an absence).
Attendance: Attendance involves not only being present
in the class, but also prepared, having read the assignment, being
ready to discuss it, and having your book with you. Mere physical
presence is not enough to be counted as attending class. If you
have not prepared, you may be considered as absent under this
attendance policy. Each unexcused absence, starting with the 2nd
will result in a lowering of your final grade by ½ a letter
grade.
Your grade for the course will be based on the critical papers
(40%), in-class writing, out-of-class position papers, and group
projects (40%), and class participation (20%) (attendence may
be a factor in your final grade).
Graduate students see me about an extra project for graduate
credit.
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the "Rights and Responsibilities" section of the Undergraduate Bulletin; the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the "Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures" [UWS Chapter 14]; and the "Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures" [UWS Chapter 17]).
Class Calendar
9/11: Introduction.
9/18 & 9/25: A Midsummer Night's Dream, 805-63; Stephen Greenblatt,
"General Introduction," 1-76; and Andrew Gurr, "The
Shakespearean Stage, 3281-3301.
10/2 & 10/9: Merchant of Venice, 1081-1144.
10/16 & 10/23: As You Like It, 1591-1657.
10/30 & 11/6: Othello, 2091-2174.
11/13 & 11/20: Antony and Cleopatra, 2619-2708.
11/27, 12/4 & 12/11: The Winter's Tale, 2873-2953.