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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 245-1"
COURSE NAME: "Shakespeare"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2022
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Daniel Connelly
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
TBA
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a general introduction to Shakespeare’s plays and an in-depth study of a selection of representative plays including a comedy, a history, a tragedy, and a romance. Through the close reading of the plays selected for the course, students will learn how to analyze a theatrical text, will study the Elizabethan stage in its day, and consider Shakespeare’s cultural inheritance.
This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 200-level literature classes are required to produce 4-5,000 words of critical writing.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
We will study Titus Andronicus (1593), The Merchant of Venice (1596), Julius Caesar (1598) and Hamlet (1599). Each play will be examined via lectures as well as through student-led presentations (non PowerPoint). We will also research how the Shakespearean text is brought to the screen, with regular in-class viewings of filmmakers attempts to make the plays accessible to mass audiences. Textual, contextual and critical analyses will allow us to site the works within both early modern and contemporary political frameworks.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a result of taking this course, students will understand the role that Shakespeare had in early-modern theatrical production and post-modern cinematic production. Moving beyond distinguishing between Shakespearean genres, students will be able to engage in sophisticated analyses of staged and screened compositions.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| The Norton Shakespeare | William Shakespeare | W. W. Norton & Company; Third International Student Edition | 9780393263121 | | Some copies of the class text book will be available from JCU's provider, The Anglo/American Bookstore at Via della Vite, 102, 00187 Roma.
You can also purchase the book online at Amazon.it:
https://www.amazon.it/Norton-Shakespeare-Stephen-Greenblatt/dp/0393263126/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=M0qCc&pf_rd_p=f13da817-0574-4c99-9164-815648eb01d2&pf_rd_r=FW1E8YGYX5F6TKCY3VK3&pd_rd_r=d0c96729-5dc7-423d-a60c-d4156654eb98&pd_rd_wg=gH889&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m
('Copertina Flessibile') | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Home Papers | Students will write four 3-page (800-900 words) and one 8-page (2400-2700) papers on the plays under discussion. Essays need to conform to MLA style guidelines and include peer-reviewed research. Required research is 3 sources (2-page papers) and 6 sources (6-page paper) There will be a mixture of textual and filmic analysis. Due by dates are on the course schedule. | 70% |
| Stand-Up Shakespeare | During the final examination class, students will present in pairs topics selected by the professor pertaining to our semester’s learning in class. | 20% |
| Participation | Students are required to take active part in the class discussions, keeping up with the assigned reading and reacting to other student's presentations. Silent attendance does not contribute to this portion of the grade. | 10% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cour
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Through the study of four of Shakespeare’s plays, written across the breadth of his career, we will focus on how this playwright speaks to his and to our time. Given that we will be looking at two tragedies, one comedy and one romance play, our thematic enquiries will vary considerably. Of foremost concern will be families at war, the outsider, religion, revenge, and sexual corruption. In this regard, we will briefly assay a number of other plays of the period authored by Shakespearean and his contemporaries. Our analyses will call upon ancient, medieval, and renaissance literatures, as well as late 20th-century filmic responses to the texts in question.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Session
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Session Focus
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Reading Assignment
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Other Assignment
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Week 1
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Shakespeare in his time;
Shakespeare in our time.
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Selections from Shakespeare
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Week 2
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Titus Andronicus, 1592
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Acts 1 – 3;
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Week 3
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Titus Andronicus, 1592
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Acts 4 – 5;
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Week 4
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Film:Titus (dir. Julie Taymor, 2000).
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Paper 1 due
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Week 5
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The Merchant of Venice, 1596
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Acts 1 – 3;
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Paper 2 due
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Week 6
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The Merchant of Venice, 1596
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Act 4
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Week 7
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Films: The Merchant of Venice (dir. Michael Radford, 2004; Chris Hunt, 2001)
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Paper 3 due
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Week 8
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Julius Caesar
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Act 1;
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Week 9
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Julius Caesar
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Acts 2 - 3
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Week 10
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Film: Julius Caesar (dir. Joseph Mankiewicz, 1953)
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Week 11
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Hamlet, 1599
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Acts 1 – 2;
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Paper 4 due
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Week 12
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Hamlet, 1599
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Acts 3 – 4;
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Week 13
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Hamlet, 1599
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Act 5
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Week 14
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Hamlet 1599
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Film: Hamlet
(dir. Michael Almereyda, 2000; Greg Doran, 2009).
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Paper 5 due
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USE OF MOBILE TELEPHONES OR OTHER UNAUTHORISED TECHNOLOGY WILL RESULT IN THE LOWERING OF YOUR GRADE (TRUST ME ON THIS ONE)
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