Prof. Perret's Shakespeare I

More advanced than Introduction to Shakespeare, this course will explore seven plays about young lovers and rebels, young and old. We will see young men and women find their identities or forge new ones while they strive to balance obligations to family, society, and self, and watch older men and women struggle with the choices they have made. We will also explore Shakespeare's dramatic art and his deep understanding of humanity. GOALS OF THIS COURSE: --To help you appreciate what makes Shakespeare so great a playwright --To teach you how to read and understand Elizabethan English, and to stage his plays for your mind's eye.
READINGS:
1	Introduction to course
	...
2	Labor Day: no class
3	A Midsummer Night's Dream 1.1-2.1
	...
4	A Midsummer Night's Dream 2.2-4.2
5	A Midsummer Night's Dream 5.1
	....
6	The Taming of the Shrew 1.1-2.1
7	The Taming of the Shrew 2.1-4.5
	....
8	The Taming of the Shrew 5.1-5.2
9	Twelfth Night 1.1-2.3
	....
10	Twelfth Night 2.4-4.4
11	Twelfth Night 5.1-5.5
	...
12	Romeo and Juliet 1.1-2.2
13	Romeo and Juliet 2.3-3.5
	...
14	Romeo and Juliet 4.1-5.3
15	midterm exam
	...
16	(no class) read whole play and see BBC All's Well That Ends Well
17	All's Well That Ends Well project groups meet to discuss presentation
	....
18	All's Well That Ends Well group project
19	All's Well That Ends Well group project
	....
20	All's Well That Ends Well group project
21	Hamlet 1.1-1
	...
22	Hamlet 1.3-2.2
23	Hamlet 3.1-3.3
	...
22	The soliloquies
	...
23	Hamlet 3.3-3.4
24	Hamlet 4.1-5.1
	...
25	Hamlet 5.2
26	Hamlets, classic and contemporary, course evaluations
	...
TBA	final exam

TEXT: Any hardback edition of The Complete Works that I approve OR the Bantam Classics paperback editions. Do not rely on a text that has no footnotes or introductions to the plays: those who try to get by with a cheap or very old text almost never get good grades because they have not well understood what Shakespeare is saying. Read the introduction to each play before reading the play itself.

CLASS PREPARATION HINT:  If you are having trouble with Elizabethan English, listen to a tape recording of the play, following along in the text.  Words that look strange may sound familiar.  The White Plains library has a fine collection of Shakespeare tapes, and many other public libraries carry some tapes.  If you are very disciplined, you can use the BBC videotape of the play by turning off the picture entirely and just listening while you keep your eyes on the text.   Resist the temptation to look at a video recording before reading the play.

STANDARDS: You are expected to read and think about the assignments before class, so you will be able to discuss the plays fruitfully--part of your grade is based upon the quality of your class discussion.  I assume that you have read the assignment; what I look for is evidence that you have understood and thought about what you have read.

WRITTEN WORK should be put on the teacher's desk at the beginning of the class in which it is due.  Written work for this course will consist of 10 one page long question sets or class preparation exercises, a  working paper on Hamlet, the All's Well That Ends Well group project, the midterm and the final exam.  If it seems that many of you have not thought about the reading, there may also be unannounced quizzes in class.  There is, however, no research paper.

GRADES:  The work for the course will be weighted thus:

         10% class discussion (other than in group project)
         10% question sets or class preparation exercises
         15% working paper
         15% group project
         15% midterm exam
         35% final exam

ATTENDANCE is necessary because active participation in class is expected. More than three unexcused absences will lower your semester grade, so do not cut except for emergencies -- you cannot make up missed in-class work. Please come to class on time. Homework will not be accepted after discussion has begun.

OFFICE HOURS:  My office is Dammann 4, on the ground floor near the elevator.  I  will be in during the following hours, and by appointment.  If I am a few minutes late, please wait for me.

Monday     1:45 to 3:45
Tuesday    11:00 to 12:00, 3:00 to 4:00
Thursday    9:30 to10:30, 1:45 to 2:45
Friday        10:45-12:00

My office is Dammann 4.  If you need to call me, my home number is 694-5787; my office number, 323-5106 if you are calling from outside the college -- my voicemail inside the college is extension 5106.  If you change your phone number or e-mail address during the semester, let me know how to reach you.  Feel free to come talk to me about this course, the English major, or any of your other concerns and interests.  Please come by to see me if you have any questions or problems with your work. I enjoy talking to students!