"Nothing can please many, and please long, but just representations of general nature. . . . Shakespeare is above all writers, at least above all modern writers, the poet of nature; the poet that holds up to his readers a faithful mirrour of manners and of life. . . . Shakespeare's plays are not in the rigorous and critical sense either tragedies or comedies, but compositions of a distinct kind; exhibiting the real state of sublunary nature, which partakes of good and evil, joy and sorrow, mingled with endless variety of proportion and innumerable modes of combination; and expressing the course of the world, in which the loss of one is the gain of another; in which, at the same time, the reveler is hasting to his wine, and the mourner burying his friend; in which the malignity of one is sometimes defeated by the frolick of another; and many mischiefs and many benefits are done and hindered without design." Samuel Johnson, 1765

Course description: This is first and foremost a course in reading: developing the skills requisite to meet the challenges of reading--with comprehension, appreciation, and pleasure--highly artificial work written by a genius in antique English. In order to achieve this comprehension, we'll look at the language itself, the figures of speech, themes, and the literary conventions and cultural context of the works. We'll attend both to the ways in which Shakespeare is our contemporary as an early modern and the ways in which his work and culture are utterly alien. In particular, we'll discuss the psychology of Shakespeare's characters and the innovative techniques Shakespeare uses in order to produce subjectivities susceptible to such analysis. Readings of six plays (two comedies, two tragedies, a history, and a romance) will be supplemented with screenings of a variety of productions. Discussion and informal lecture format. Regular attendance and timely completion of assignments essential. Students will keep reading journals and a commonplace book, respond to study questions, participate in an email discussion list between class meetings, take quizzes, and complete midterm and final examinations.

Texts: Shakespeare, Richard III; Much Ado About Nothing; Othello; Measure for Measure; Coriolanus; The Winter's Tale.

Policies: Faithful attendance and regular participation in class are expected. To provide motivation when it is lacking, unannounced quizzes may be given. Quizzes cannot be made up without prior permission or documentation of a legitimate excuse for absence. No quiz grades will be dropped. Students with special needs are welcome to discuss them with me. Some services for students with special needs are available through the Office of Disability Support Services, 157 NFH, x3266. No alternative examination dates will be available. The grade of Incomplete is available only to students who have demonstrated regular and steady progress in the course but for whom unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances make impossible the timely completion of the course. Students suspected of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students for consideration of the Academic Conduct Committee of the University Senate. Cheating on any course assignment may result in failure for the course and suspension or expulsion from the University. Representing anybody else's work as your own is a form of academic dishonesty. For further information, please see the section on "Academic Conduct" in the undergraduate catalogue.

Classroom Decorum: Everyone in the class is responsible for ensuring that the classroom supports learning: Please arrive on time; try not to distract others; turn off your cell phone; address your comments to the class at large. You are encouraged to participate vigorously, even passionately, in class discussion, but always respectfully to your classmates and your instructor.

Major Assignments:

The following simple formula will determine your final grade for the course:

Some links of interest:

Schedule: Unless we get very tired very fast, we will adhere to the following schedule. If a class meeting is canceled for any reason please continue reading according to the schedule.

January

11 Orientation; who was/is Shakespeare? Practice in reading; screening of Pacino's Looking for Richard.

Below: David Garrick as Richard III by Francis Hayman, 1760

18 Subscribe to email discussion list: Send email, without subject line or signature, to majordomo@oakland.edu, with the message, Subscribe britlit370-L followed by your email address. "Shakespeare: An Overview," vii-lxi in the Signet Measure for Measure "Shakespeare's Richard III," "Reading Shakespeare's Language," "The Publication of Shakespeare's Plays," and "An Introduction to This Text," xiii-xxv and xliii-lx in the Folger Richard III. Richard III, Acts 1-IV (or more)

25 Finish Richard III. Re-read key scenes. Phyllis Rackin's "Richard III: A Modern Perspective," in the Folger Richard III, 337-349. You may wish to browse in the Britannica Online article on tragedy. Journals and commonplace books will be collected.

February

1 "An Introduction to This Text" in the Folger Much Ado, xlix-liv. Much Ado About Nothing--complete play

8 Gail Kern Paster's "Much Ado About Nothing: A Modern Perspective," in the Folger Much Ado, 213-230. You may wish to browse in the Britannica Online article on comedy. Journals and commonplace books will be collected.

Below: Othello Relating His Adventures by Charles W. Cope, 1853

15 Othello--complete play

22 Midterm examination: Bring a blue examination booklet.

March

1 Winter break

8 Alvin Kernan's "Introduction" to Othello, Signet lxiii-lxxiv Cinthio, Selection from Hecatommithi, in Signet Othello, 134-146 Barnet, "Othello on Stage and Screen," Signet Othello, 217-231

15 Measure for Measure--complete play

22 S. Nagurajan's "Introduction" to Measure for Measure, Signet lxiii-lxiv Marcia Riefer Poulsen's "‘Instruments of Some More Mightier Member': The Construction of Female Power in Measure for Measure," in Signet, 153-172 Ruth Nevo's "Complex Sexuality," in Signet, 173-179

29 Coriolanus--complete play

April

5 Reuben Brower's "Introduction" to Coriolanus, Signet xxii-l

Below: John Fawcett as Autolycus in "The Winter's Tale" by Thomas Charles Wageman, 1828

12 The Winter's Tale--complete play. Journals and commonplace books will be collected.

19 Frank Kermode's "Introduction to Winter's Tale, Signet lxiii-lxxvii Tillyard's selection from Shakespeare's Last Plays, in the Signet WT 149-157 Knight's selection from The Crown of Life, in the Signet WT 159-170 Carol Thomas Neely, "The Winter's Tale: Women and Issue," Signet WT 171-183

23 Shakespeare's birthday! Happy 437th!

26 7:00-10:00 p.m. Final examination. Bring a blue examination booklet.

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