SYLLABUS FOR E430 SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDIES AND HISTORIES
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY, FALL 2009

*2023 Note. Most links have been removed from this archival version of the syllabus.

COURSE INFORMATION. English 430. Tu/Th 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. Location: Argyros Forum (AF) 206C. Instructor: Alfred J. Drake, Ph.D. Office hours: 1:20 – 2:20 p.m. in Cyber Café (Beckman Hall, 1st. floor). Email: e430_at_ajdrake.com. Catalog: “Prerequisites, ENG 301 or HIST 308, or TH 316. Advanced study of approximately 10 of Shakespeare’s comedies and histories with attention to their literary, historical, and cultural contexts. This course can be used to satisfy the pre-1850 distribution requirements for English majors. (Offered fall semester.) 3 credits.” The English Dept. is located in Wilkinson Hall 217.

REQUIRED TEXTS AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE

Evans, G. Blakemore et al., eds. The Riverside Shakespeare. 2nd edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. ISBN: 0-395-75490-9. If you already have the Norton or the Bevington Shakespeare editions, you may use them instead since all three offer the depth of notes vital to an edition of Shakespeare.

COURSE RATIONALE AND ACTIVITIES

FOCUS AND OBJECTIVES. This course will cover a selection of Shakespeare’s comedies and history plays, from light-hearted, almost farcical comedies such as The Taming of the Shrew to more romantic productions like Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and on to darker fare such as The Merchant of Venice, Troilus and Cressida, and Measure for Measure. The history genre that Shakespeare perfected is here represented by tragic-leaning Richard III and the two parts of Henry IV. We will pay special attention to Shakespeare’s linguistic and rhetorical excellence and to the structure of his dramas, but due attention will also be given to cultural and historical background, biography, stage history, acting methods, and other topics as appropriate.

With regard to how we will proceed thematically, I generally avoid imposing claims of universal coherence, thematic unity, etc. on assigned material, preferring instead to let the temporal unfolding of the readings expose themes and issues and thereafter to connect them as appropriate. That said, we will consider issues such as the influence through the Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence of Greek New Comedy, the relative stability or instability of individual identity, and the importance of class and social status in Shakespeare’s comedies. The presence of comic moments and scenes in the history plays is one element to look at in the latter genre, as is, of course, the relative freedom with which Shakespeare rearranges, telescopes, and otherwise alters the historical incidents and characters which he drew largely from Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1577/1587).

Finally, for each play, I will show parts of a film production to illustrate key scenes, but since our available time for in-class viewing is quite limited, please watch a production of each play as your time permits. To that end, I will place DVD productions from my own collection on reserve in the library.

ACTIVITIES. In class, there will be a mix of lectures, student presentations, whole-class and smaller-group discussion, occasional quizzes, an essay, and a final exam. I encourage questions and comments—class sessions improve when students take an active part. Outside class, you should do the assigned readings before the relevant discussion dates and complete your journal entries and sets as outlined below. In literary studies, the aim is to read and discuss actively and thereby to develop your own voice in response to the texts you read. Insightful interpretation and the ability to make compelling connections are central goals. The essay, discussions, presentations, and journal-keeping should combine to help you work towards these goals.

HOW YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL BE EVALUATED

COURSE POLICIES. Please review the course policies page early in the semester since it addresses matters such as attendance, late or missing work, and academic integrity.

PRESENTATIONS REQUIREMENT. At the beginning of the course, students will sign up for two to four (depending on class size) five-minute in-class presentations on plays of their choosing (if possible). I will provide presenters with specific questions to address from among those on the questions pp., and within a few days after sign-up I will post a schedule on the Presentations page. Each session will feature several presentations. Required: Several days before you present, email me as full a draft as possible of what you intend to say in class. (20% of course grade.)

JOURNALS REQUIREMENT. Responses to a choice of questions from the study questions page for each play. Three separate journal sets due by email as specified below in the reading schedule. Electronic format required. (30%)

PAPER REQUIREMENT. By the end of Week 12 (Sunday, 11/22) a one-paragraph description addressing the topic and argument of the projected paper will be due by email. (Full rough drafts are also encouraged.) Not providing this description on time may affect the final draft grade. Please read the term paper instructions carefully since they contain the general prompt, suggested topics, and advance draft comments. I reserve the right to require proof of the final paper’s authenticity, such as notes or an early draft. Final draft (5-7 pp.) due as specified towards the bottom of the syllabus page. Follow MLA (Modern Language Association) guidelines. (30%)

FINAL EXAM REQUIREMENT. The exam will consist of substantive id passages, mix-and-match questions (match phrase or concept x to author/text y), and essay and/or short-essay questions. There will be more choices than required responses. Books and notes allowed for all sections, but no laptops. Students may not share books or notes during the exam. Exam date: see below. (20%)

EMAILING ASSIGNMENTS Email journals, presentations, and term paper as attachments. Don’t send more than one document in the same email. Label subject lines appropriately: “E430 Journal 1, John Doe” etc. You can paste journal sets into a regular email or send them as an attachment. (Journal “sets” include responses to questions about several authors; do not send entries on each author in a given set separately.) Contact me if you don’t receive prompt email confirmation.

QUESTIONS FOR JOURNALS AND PRESENTATIONS

*2023 Note. Visitors may download the following questions in PDF format: SHAKESPEARE QUESTIONS. In addition, my LIMBS OF ALARBUS website offers comments on most of Shakespeare’s plays.

Taming of the Shrew | Richard III | Midsummer Night’s Dream | Merchant of Venice | I & II Henry IV | Much Ado about Nothing | Twelfth Night | Troilus and Cressida | Measure for Measure

SCHEDULE: WORKS DISCUSSED ON DATES INDICATED

WEEK 1

Tu. 09/01. Course introduction.

Th. 09/03. The Taming of the Shrew (Film Highlights, BBC). Chronology: 1593-94.

WEEK 2

Tu. 09/08. The Taming of the Shrew (Acts 1-3, pp. 142-60). Chronology: 1593-94.

Th. 09/10. The Taming of the Shrew (Acts 4-5, Pp. 160-71). Chronology: 1593-94.

WEEK 3

Tu. 09/15. The Tragedy of King Richard the Third (Film Highlights, Ian McKellen). Chronology: 1592-93.

Th. 09/17. The Tragedy of King Richard the Third (Acts 1-2, pp. 752-69). Chronology: 1592-93.

WEEK 4

Tu. 09/22. The Tragedy of King Richard the Third (Acts 3-5, pp. 769-94). Chronology: 1592-93.

Th. 09/24. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Film Highlights, Adrian Noble’s RSC). Chronology: 1595-96.

WEEK 5

Tu. 09/29. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Acts 1-3, pp. 256-72). Chronology: 1595-96.

Th. 10/01. A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Acts 4-5, pp. 272-80). Chronology: 1595-96. Journal Set 1 Due by Email by Sunday, 10/04.

WEEK 6

Tu. 10/06. The Merchant of Venice (Film Highlights, Radford). Chronology: 1596-97.

Th. 10/08. The Merchant of Venice (Acts 1-2, pp. 288-301). Chronology: 1596-97.

WEEK 7

Tu. 10/13. The Merchant of Venice (Acts 3-5, pp. 301-17). Chronology: 1596-97.

Th. 10/15. The First Part of Henry the Fourth (Film Highlights, BBC). Chronology: 1596-97.

WEEK 8

Tu. 10/20. The First Part of Henry the Fourth (Acts 1-3, pp. 889-913). Chronology: 1596-97.

Th. 10/22. The First Part of Henry the Fourth (Acts 4-5, pp. 913-23). Chronology: 1596-97.

WEEK 9

Tu. 10/27. The Second Part of Henry the Fourth (Acts 1-3, pp. 928-49). Chronology: 1598.

Th. 10/29. The Second Part of Henry the Fourth (Acts 4-5, pp. 949-65). Chronology: 1598. Journal Set 2 Due by Email by Sunday, 11/01.

WEEK 10

Tu. 11/03. Much Ado about Nothing (Film Highlights, K. Branagh). Chronology: 1598-99.

Th. 11/05. Much Ado about Nothing (Acts 1-2, pp. 366-78). Chronology: 1598-99.

WEEK 11

Tu. 11/10. Much Ado about Nothing (Acts 3-5, pp. 378-96). Chronology: 1598-99.

Th. 11/12. Twelfth Night, or What You Will (Film Highlights, Trevor Nunn). Chronology: 1601-02.

WEEK 12

Tu. 11/17. Twelfth Night, or What You Will (Acts 1-3, pp. 442-66). Chronology: 1601-02.

Th. 11/19. Twelfth Night, or What You Will (Acts 4-5, pp. 466-74). Chronology: 1601-02. Paragraph on paper topic and argument due by Sunday, 11/22

WEEK 13

Tu. 11/24. The History of Troilus and Cressida (Film Highlights, BBC). Chronology: 1601-02.

Th. 11/26. No classes — Thanksgiving Holiday.

WEEK 14

Tu. 12/01. The History of Troilus and Cressida (Acts 1-3, pp. 482-508). Chronology: 1601-02.

Th. 12/03. The History of Troilus and Cressida (Acts 4-5, pp. 509-525). Chronology: 1601-02.

WEEK 15

Tu. 12/08. Measure for Measure (Acts 1-3, pp. 584-606). Chronology: 1604.

Th. 12/10. Measure for Measure (Acts 4-5, pp. 606-18). Chronology: 1604. Journal Set 3 Due by Email by Sunday, 12/13.

FINALS WEEK

Final Exam Date: Wed., Dec. 16, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Due by Sunday, Dec. 20: Term Paper. I must turn in grades by Sunday, Dec. 27. For your other courses, check the Fall 2009 Chapman Final Exam Schedule.