READING SCHEDULE FOR E316 SHAKESPARE’S MAJOR PLAYS
CSU FULLERTON, FALL 2012 (TU/TH SECTION)

*2023 Note. Most links and procedural information have been removed from this archival copy, leaving mainly the assigned editions and the reading schedule.

COURSE INFORMATION. English 316, Course Code 11331, Section 1. Tu/Th 2:30 – 3:45 p.m., McCarthy Hall (MH) 552. Instructor: Alfred J. Drake, Ph.D. Office hours: Thursday 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. in University Hall (UH) 329. Email: ajdrake_at_ajdrake.com. Catalog: “A study of Shakespeare’s major plays. Units (3). Prereq: English 101 or equivalent.’’ English 316 is a required course for the Bachelor of Arts degree (and for a minor) in English, and it serves as a prerequisite for English 416, an advanced seminar in Shakespeare.”

REQUIRED TEXTS AT TITAN BOOKSTORE

Greenblatt, Stephen et al., eds. The Norton Shakespeare. 2nd ed. Four-Volume Genre Paperback Set. Norton, 2008. ISBN-13: 978-0-393-93152-5.

QUESTIONS FOR JOURNALS AND PRESENTATIONS

*2023 Note. Visitors may download the following questions in PDF format: SHAKESPEARE QUESTIONS.

SCHEDULE: WORKS DISCUSSED ON DATES INDICATED

WEEK 1

Note: At relevant points, please read the Norton General Introduction to Shakespeare (1-99) as well as the Introductions to Comedy (103-18), Tragedy (103-14), History (103-15), and Romance (103-17) in the respective volumes. Introductions to the specific plays are also assigned.

Tu. 08/28. Course Introduction and Brief Introduction to Shakespeare.

Th. 08/30. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-96; Act 1, Comedies 377-84).

WEEK 2

Tu. 09/04. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-96; Acts 2-3, Comedies 384-408).

Th. 09/06. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-96; Acts 4-5, Comedies 408-424).

WEEK 3

Tu. 09/11. The Merchant of Venice (1596-97; Acts 1-2, Comedies 435-59).

Th. 09/13. The Merchant of Venice (1596-97; Act 3, Comedies 460-73).

WEEK 4

Tu. 09/18. The Merchant of Venice (1596-97; Acts 4-5, Comedies 473-89).

Th. 09/20. Twelfth Night (1601-02; Act 1, Comedies 697-710).

WEEK 5

Tu. 09/25. Twelfth Night (1601-02; Acts 2-3, Comedies 710-36).

Th. 09/27. Twelfth Night (1601-02; Acts 4-5, Comedies 736-50).

WEEK 6

Tu. 10/02. Richard III (1592-93; Act 1, Histories 369-92).

Th. 10/04. Richard III (1592-93; Acts 2-3, Histories 392-420).

WEEK 7

Tu. 10/09. Richard III (1592-93; Acts 4-5, Histories 420-50).

Th. 10/11. Othello (1604; Act 1, Tragedies 435-50).

WEEK 8

Tu. 10/16. Othello (1604; Acts 2-3, Tragedies 450-81).

Th. 10/18. Othello (1604; Acts 4-5, Tragedies 481-507).

WEEK 9

Tu. 10/23. Hamlet (1600-01; Act 1, Tragedies 336-56).

Th. 10/25. Hamlet (1600-01; Acts 2-3, Tragedies 356-92).

WEEK 10

Tu. 10/30. Hamlet (1600-01; Acts 4-5, Tragedies 393-424).

Th. 11/01. King Lear (1605; Act 1, Tragedies Intro 571-81, conflated text 739-59).

WEEK 11

Tu. 11/06. King Lear (1605; Acts 2-3, Tragedies Intro 571-81, conflated text 759-87).

Th. 11/08. King Lear (1605; Acts 4-5, Tragedies Intro 571-81, conflated text 787-813).

WEEK 12

Tu. 11/13. Timon of Athens (1607-08; Acts 1-3, Tragedies 516-47).

Th. 11/15. Timon of Athens (1607-08; Acts 4-5, Tragedies 547-69).

WEEK 13

Tu. 11/20. Fall Recess. No Classes.

Th. 11/22. Fall Recess. No Classes.

WEEK 14

Tu. 11/27. The Winter’s Tale (1610-11; Acts 1-2, Romances and Poems 202-26).

Th. 11/29. The Winter’s Tale (1610-11; Acts 3-4, Romances and Poems 226-59).

WEEK 15

Tu. 12/04. The Winter’s Tale (1610-11; Act 5, Romances and Poems 259-71).

Th. 12/06. The Tempest (1611; Act 1, Romances and Poems 374-89).

WEEK 16

Tu. 12/11. The Tempest (1611; Acts 2-3, Romances and Poems 389-410).

Th. 12/13. The Tempest (1611; Acts 4-5, Romances and Poems 410-425).

FINALS WEEK

Final Exam Date, Thursday, December 20, 2:30 – 4:20 p.m.