Fall 2007
English 301: Shakespeare, 3 credit hours
MWF, 1-2 p.m.
Belk 219

Don W. King: http://www.montreat.edu/dking/ 
Office: McGowan Center 107
Office hrs. MWF 11-12 a.m.; MW 2-3 p.m.; Tuesday 9-12 a.m.;
Phone 828-669-8012, ex. 3819
dking@montreat.edu

Table of Contents:

Course description
Course rationale
Texts
Course objectives
Goals
Course outline
Evaluation
Bibliography and Internet links
Final comments

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of the major plays of Shakespeare with special emphasis on the tragedies and comedies.

COURSE RATIONALE: Because William Shakespeare is acknowledged as the most important writer in the English tradition, a course on his writings is a key part of a liberal arts education. No one has done more to invigorate the English language than he, and few have done as much in literature to portray the human condition. Indeed, to understand and appreciate English literature since his time, one must be familiar with his plays and poetry.

TEXTS:

Required:

The Complete Pelican Shakespeare. Ed. by Alfred Harbage. (There are also complete on-line editions)

The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare Studies. 2nd edition. Ed. by Russ McDonald.

Strongly recommended:

A Handbook to Literature, Eds. William Harmon and C. Hugh Holman

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (5th ed), Ed. Joseph Gibaldi.

Also, see Oxford Reference Online www.oxfordreference.com for some basic reference assistance.  It contains desktop access to 100 key Oxford dictionaries and reference works. The Core Collection brings together 100 language and subject dictionaries and reference works - containing well over 60,000 pages - into a single cross-searchable resource.  Also, see the Oxford English Dictionary, the grandfather of all dictionaries at http://dictionary.oed.com 

COURSE OBJECTIVES: The central objective of this course is for you to read, view (when possible), discuss, and study the important comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances of William Shakespeare. As a part of this study, you will learn and demonstrate a knowledge of these literary genres. In addition, you will explore Shakespeare's use of language, especially as a "wordsmith." A final concern will be an investigation of the role of love--eros, philia, storge, and agape--in his work. Of special focus, therefore, will be the role of love and marriage (Montreat College Educational Objectives IV
1, 2, 3, 5, and 7). 

Additionally, there are several questions we will consider as we work through the plays, including but not limited to:

1. How does Shakespeare's portrayal of romantic love in the early comedies relate to a biblical view of romantic love? The mature comedies? What biblical texts comment upon the idea of romantic love (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g, 3, and 5)?  



2. In Shakespeare's "problem comedies," what is the relationship between law and grace? In what ways does his understanding of this relationship reflect a biblical one (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g, 3, and 5)?



3. What appears to be Shakespeare's view of the nature of humankind in his histories and tragedies? Are we beasts or created "a little lower than the angels" (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g, 3, and 5)? 



4. How does Shakespeare's knowledge of biblical passages, themes, motifs, ideas, and principles inform his plays? In what ways does he draw upon these rich resources as an artist (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g, 3, and 5)?  



5. What are the roles of confession, repentance, forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation in his final plays, the romances? Is Shakespeare's understanding of these principles biblically informed and how so (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g, 3, and 5)?  



6. What appears to be Shakespeare's view of marriage? Do his plays reflect a static view of marriage or an evolving one? How so (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g, 3, and 5)? 

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GOALS:

1. That you read and analyze ten Shakespearean plays and selected sonnets (MCEO 2 and 3). 



2. That you understand and are able to discuss the following literary genres:  Shakespearean comedy, tragedy, romance, and sonnets (MCEO 2 and 3). 



3. That you write two book reviews concerning Shakespeare's work (MCEO 2 and 3). 



4. That you engage in print and electronic research on Shakespeare (MCEO 2, 3, and 4).



5. That you  write an analytical essay or develop a creative project on some aspect of Shakespeare as mutually agreed upon between you and me (MCEO 2 and 3).



6. That you utilize email to extend class discussion, to communicate with me, and to perform assigned small group work (MCEO 2, 3, and 4). 



7. That you turn in all important written work electronically (MCEO 2, 3, and 4).



8. That you utilize Moodle for class management, including accessing notes, checking grades, participating in class discussions, and related activities (MCEO 2, 3, and 4).



9. And these somewhat intangible, not always measurable goals:  

• that you learn to value Shakespeare's work as something that can enrich your life, revealing the complexity of the human experience; 



• that you learn to enjoy his work (it is not "highbrow" stuff!); 



• that you consider your personal faith in light of your exposure to his work. 
  

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COURSE OUTLINE:

Aug. 22-24 Course introduction; Shakespeare's life and publication background

Aug. 27-29  A Comedy of Errors

Aug. 31-Sept. 3 The Taming of the Shrew

Sept. 5-10 Much Ado About Nothing

Sept. 12-17 As You Like It

TEST 1:  September 24

Sept. 26-Oct 1 The Merchant of Venice

Oct. 3-8 Measure for Measure

Oct. 10-17 Henry IV, Part One 

TEST 2: October 19

Oct. 22-29  Anthony and Cleopatra

Oct. 31-Nov. 9 Othello 

TEST 3: November 12

Nov. 12-19 Hamlet

Nov. 27-Dec. 5 The Tempest

TEST 4: December 12, 1:30

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EVALUATION:

1. There will be three tests, a final exam, in class essays that will constitute 50% of your grade.



2. A book review of The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare Studies will count 5%.  Due Oct. 1, 2007, by midnight via email attachment.



3. A second book review of a significant critical study of Shakespeare or a review of a live performance (for information about local live productions of Shakespeare, see The Montford Park Players) will count 5%.  Due Nov. 5, 2007, by midnight via email attachment.



4. One analytical paper (1,250 to 1,500 words) in which you compare and/or contrast one play we have studied with one play we have not studied OR a creative project (recitations, well-done skits or video versions of portions of a play, satires, "modern-language" versions of portions of a play, audio recordings, computer presentations, etc.--check out your idea with me and get approval before beginning work on this) will count 10%.  Due Nov. 30, 2007 (all creative projects must be presented to the class).



5. Class attendance, participation and discussion, quizzes, small group work, in class writing assignments, and assigned readings will count 30%. 



6. There are a total of 1000 pts possible in the course. Final grades will be compiled using the following guidelines:

1000-900    A to A-
899-800      B+ to B-
799-700      C+ to C-
699-600      D+ to D-
599-0          F

LIBRARY: All students are encouraged to take advantage of the services and resources available from the library.  You can search the online catalog and the library’s databases by going to http://www.montreat.edu/library/.  Select “Catalog” to search the online catalog or “Electronic Resources” to search the databases.  The catalog lists all of the books in the Montreat College library as well as the holdings of five other colleges.  You may check out books from all of these libraries.  In addition, you may request books or journal articles via interlibrary loan.  From the online catalog, you can also check on reserve materials by selecting “Reserve Desk” and searching by instructor name or course name.  

The list of databases at http://www.montreat.edu/library/completeelectronic.asp provides links to a variety of databases containing journal articles, online reference sources, and electronic books (ebooks).  These databases are accessible both on and off campus. You can search for journals at http://www.montreat.edu/library/electronic.asp.  Ask the library staff for a password for remote access if you live off campus.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: In addition to the books listed below that are on three-day reserve in the library, you can also find there many journals that may be of help in doing research; one in particular is The Shakespeare Quarterly. Of much interest to you, however, will be the multiple resources available on the Internet. 

Belsey, Catherine. Shakespeare and the Loss of Eden 
Bentley, Gerald Eades. Shakespeare: A Biographical Handbook.
Bradley, A. C. Shakespearean Tragedy.
Brown, Richard. A Shakespeare Reader.
Bryant, J. A. Jr. Shakespeare and the Uses of Comedy.
Carter, Thomas. Shakespeare and Holy Scripture.
Chambers, E. K. William Shakespeare: A Study of Facts and Problems, 2 vols.
Charlton, H. B. Shakespearean Comedy.
Dreher, Diane Elizabeth. Domination and Defiance: Fathers and Daughters in Shakespeare.
Dusinberre, Juliet. Shakespeare and the Nature of Women.
Hamilton, Donna B. Shakespeare and the Politics of Protestant England. 
Harbage, Alfred. A Reader's Guide to William Shakespeare.
----------. Shakespeare: The Tragedies: A Collection of Critical Essays.
Heilman, Robert, ed. Shakespeare: The Tragedies: New Perspectives.
Kasten, David Scott. A Companion to Shakespeare.
Kermode, Frank. Shakespeare's Language.
Kirsch, Arthur. Shakespeare and the Experience of Love.
Knight, G. Wilson. The Wheel of Fire.
Leech, Clifford, ed. Shakespeare's Tragedies and other Studies in Seventeenth Century Studies.
Marx, Steven. Shakespeare and the Bible.
McCrum, Robert, et. al. The Story of English. (book and 9, one hour videorecordings)
Milward, Peter. Shakespeare's Religious Background.
Muir, Kenneth. Shakespeare's Sources.
----------. Shakespeare: The Comedies.
Noble, Richmond. Shakespeare's Biblical Knowledge (currently missing).
Orgel, Stephen. Impersonations: The Performance of Gender in Shakespeare's England. 
Ornstein, Robert. Shakespeare's Comedies.
Parrott, T. Marc. Shakespearean Comedy.
Shapiro, James. Shakespeare and the Jews.
Stoll, E. E. Shakespeare Studies.
Tillyard. E. M. W. Shakespeare's History Plays.
----------. The Elizabethan World Picture.
Yaffe, Martin D. Shylock and the Jewish Question. 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  For all individual assignments students are expected to present their own work; documentation of research must follow the MLA Handbook for Writer of Research Paper or The Columbia Guide to Online Style (http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cgos2006/basic.html). Cases of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating and plagiarism, will result in either failure of the assignment or the course. For the college's policy on this issue, please click academic integrity. 

FINAL COMMENTS: As you can see, this syllabus is on-line; for the most accurate information about the course, go to listing for this course on Moodle . Class discussions, tests, and writing assignments will assume you have accessed all these materials via Moodle . Please feel free to come by my office in McGowan Center 107, contact me at extension 3819, or e-mail me at dking@montreat.edu if you need help with any aspect of the course.

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Back to Don King's Literature Page

I freely give permission to anyone to use the information on this page, English 301: Shakespeare, as long as appropriate acknowledgement is given either to me or to authors whose works I have referred to and noted.

Last updated December 3, 2007