SCHEDULE
August 15 Introduction to the Course
17 The Comedy of Errors
19 The Comedy of Errors Quiz
22 The Comedy of Errors Bedford, Introduction and Chapter 1
24 The Comedy of Errors
26 King Richard III
29 King Richard III Quiz
31 King Richard III Bedford, Chapter 2
September 2 King Richard III
5 Labor Day Holiday
7 Sonnets
9 A Midsummer Night’s Dream
12 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Quiz
14 A Midsummer Night’s Dream
16 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Bedford, Chapter 3
19 Romeo and Juliet
21 Romeo and Juliet Quiz
23 Romeo and Juliet 26 Romeo and Juliet Bedford, Chapter 4
28 King Richard II
30 King Richard II Quiz
October 3 King Richard II Bedford, Chapter 5
5 King Richard II
7 Mid-Term Examination
10 Fall Recess
12 Sonnets Bedford, Chapter 6
14 King Henry IV, Part One
17 King Henry IV, Part One Quiz
19 King Henry IV, Part One
21 King Henry IV, Part One Bedford, Chapter 7
24 Sonnets
26 Much Ado About Nothing
28 Much Ado About Nothing Quiz
31 Much Ado About Nothing Bedford, Chapter 8
November 2 Much Ado About Nothing
4 No Class: work on papers
7 Sonnets Bedford, Chapter 9
9 As You Like It
11 As You Like It Quiz
14 As You Like It Critical Paper Due
16 As You Like It
18 Hamlet
21 Hamlet Quiz
23 Thanksgiving Recess
25 Thanksgiving Recess
28 Hamlet
30 Hamlet Bedford, Chapter 10
December 2 Hamlet
5 Review
7 Final Examination
INSTRUCTOR
Russ McDonald
McIver 126; Phone: 334-4694 (with voice mail)
e-mail address: r_mcdona@uncg.edu
web page: http://www.uncg.edu/~r_mcdona/home.html
Office Hours: Monday and Friday, 11:00-12:00; Wednesday, 1:00-2:00; also by
appointment. You are encouraged to consult me about problems in reading, for
help with writing papers, and on other such matters.
Teaching Intern: Robert Beshere (<bigbob051981@yahoo.com>). Bob will
assist me with grading and such, and will assist you with writing papers. You
may see him instead of me, me instead of him, or both of us.
TEXTS
G. B. Evans, ed. The Riverside Shakespeare, 2nd. ed (Houghton Mifflin, 1997).
Any modern text with adequate notes may be used instead of the Riverside.
Older editions without notes or with minimal introductory matter are unacceptable;
using such a faulty text will damage your performance in the course and thus
lower your grade.
Russ McDonald, The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare, 2nd edition (St. Martin’s,
2001).
STUDENT LEARNING GOALS
Upon completion of ENG 339, you will
? be able to read a Shakespeare play or poem with pleasure and understanding
? demonstrate an understanding of the components of drama and poetry generally
? be able to apply your reading ability and critical skills to other works
of early modern and later literature
? have acquired a general understanding of Elizabethan culture, particularly
its theatrical and literary milieus.
? be able to write an effective analysis of a literary work
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Work load: there will be substantial reading, one critical paper, a quiz on
each play, and two tests. On the first day devoted to a play, you should have
read at least half of it, i.e. you should be well into Act Three. You will
then need to finish the play by the next class.
The quiz, given on the second day devoted to the play, will cover the entire
work and is designed to see that you are reading carefully. There will be ten
questions and a challenging bonus. Questions will concern characters, their
actions, paraphrasing of lines, and other such basic information. (A sample
quiz is available on my web page.) One quiz grade will be dropped; there are
no make-ups on quizzes.
Regular attendance is expected, and participation in discussion is encouraged
and rewarded. Absence will damage your grade.
The critical paper, on a topic to be assigned, will run about four to five
pages. It does not require research. Help is available in advance from either
Bob or me. The paper is due on the date assigned, at the beginning of class,
and therefore late submissions will be penalized in fairness to those who have
sacrificed other duties to finish their papers on time. Plagiarism or other
violations of the University Honor Code will be dealt with harshly. My web
page contains information that may be helpful in the preparation of papers
Grades will be calculated according to the following imprecise scale: The two
tests count about half; quizzes and critical paper count about half; you may
raise your grade by regular class participation and by improvement over the
course of the term.
FILMS AND VIDEOS
Filmed versions of most of the plays have been placed on reserve in the Teaching
and Learning Center, McNutt Building, Forest Street. The tape is usually available
one week before we take up the play in class. You are strongly encouraged to
avail yourselves of these performances, while recognizing that watching the
video will not substitute for a careful reading of the play. Ideally, you would
read the play carefully, then watch a filmed performance, and then re-read
certain scenes of the text. Many of the films I have designated, as well as
other versions, are available for rent at commercial video stores and for borrowing
at the public library.
On Reserve:
The Comedy of Errors (BBC; Roger Daltrey)
Richard III (Laurence Olivier)
Richard III (Ian McKellen)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Michelle Pfeiffer, Calista Flockhart)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Max Reinhardt)
Romeo and Juliet (Franco Zeffirelli)
Romeo and Juliet (Baz Luhrmann; Leonardo di Caprio)
Richard II (BBC: Derek Jacobi)
1 Henry IV (BBC; Anthony Quayle)
Much Ado About Nothing (Kenneth Branagh)
As You Like It (Olivier)
Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh)
Hamlet (Laurence Olivier)
Also, through September 7: Shakespeare in Love