1 HCOL 185P: Shakespeare and the Classical Tradition Fall 2014 Sophomore Seminar MWF 10:40 11:30 AM ~ University Heights North 16 The text of Julius Caesar in the First Folio of 1623 (Courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania).
2 Instructor Information: Email: Angeline.Chiu@uvm.edu, achiu@uvm.edu Office: 481 Main Street #302 (top floor) Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12 1 PM, 2:30-3:30 PM and by appointment Phone: (802) 656-3210 Grading: 20% Class participation 25% Reading journal portfolio 15% Paper 1 (creative) 15% Paper 2 (analytical) 25% Final exam Texts For The Class: ~Required Physical Texts at UVM Bookstore (all Folger Shakespeare Library editions): Antony and Cleopatra The Comedy of Errors Coriolanus Hamlet Julius Caesar A Midsummer Night s Dream Much Ado About Nothing Sonnets and Poems Twelfth Night ~Required Texts In PDF Or Online: Selections from the Metamorphoses by Ovid, translations by Golding and Lombardo Amphitruo and Menaechmi (i.e., The Menaechmus Brothers ) by Plautus Selections from Plutarch s Parallel Lives: the biographies of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Coriolanus, translations by North and moderns Seneca, Thyestes All materials for Plutarch adaptation project including the Lives of Cicero, Crassus, Pompey, and Sertorius Others TBD as the semester progresses ~Films: In a perfect world, we would be seeing live stage productions of each play that we study. Since that is not possible, film versions will have to do. Remember: Shakespeare is meant to be seen and heard and experienced in three dimensions, not read silently on a page. The films as you will encounter them over the semester come in this order: Julius Caesar (1953); Marlon Brando, John Gielgud, James Mason, et al. Coriolanus (2011); Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, et al. Twelfth Night (1996); Helena Bonham Carter, Imelda Staunton, Ben Kingsley, et al.
3 A Midsummer Night s Dream (1999); Christian Bale, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, et al. Hamlet (1948); Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, et al. Hamlet (1996); Kenneth Branagh, Kate Winslet, Derek Jacobi, et al. Hamlet (2010); David Tennant, Patrick Stewart, et al. Much Ado About Nothing (1993); Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, et al. Much Ado About Nothing (2012); Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, et al. ~Required Theatre Attendance: Tuesday, October 7, 2014, 5:30 PM at St. Michael s College in Colchester, VT Much Ado About Nothing by the American Shakespeare Center troupe Goals and Objectives: Welcome! This semester we will have several goals to keep in mind: First and foremost: Read and appreciate selected works of William Shakespeare. Learn about Shakespeare s world and context (Elizabethan and Jacobean England). Keep in mind that Shakespeare s works were meant to be performed, not read; appreciate Shakespeare as theatre. Consider the role of the classical tradition and the cultural inheritance from Greece and Rome in Shakespeare s day and our own. Consider too our inheritance from the Bard, along with his now-global influence. Take a closer look at several major ancient influences on Shakespeare: Plutarch, Plautus, Virgil, Ovid, Seneca, and classical mythology. Understand better the history of the English language. Practice the art and skill of close active reading and analyzing/thinking about what you have read while avoiding reductionism, judgmentalism, and solipsism. (The reading journal project is geared toward this goal.) Hone the art and skill of writing from the first brainstorm to the final draft. Grasp more firmly the art of theatre by learning and performing lines. Spark your creativity along the way. Consider the intricacies of source and adaptation. Engage in thoughtful complex discussion, clear thinking, and lucid communication both verbal and written valuable life skills in general. Classroom Policies: I expect every student to behave in a manner that is professional, responsible, courteous, and appropriate to a collegiate setting. Generally, use common sense. Particular points include: Attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences count against your grade and will only harm you in the long run. You will NOT be allowed to make up any work missed due to an unexcused absence, nor will I make concessions for catching up. For excused absences: If you must be absent for University-approved reasons, it is your responsibility to let me know beforehand and to make up the missed work. Be punctual. If you arrive after I close the door, you are tardy. Repeated tardiness will count against your participation grade. 3 tardies will count as 1 unexcused absence.
4 Once I enter the room, class has started, and I expect all conversations to stop. Treat your classmates and your instructor with courtesy and professionalism. Do not mill around the room or leave for any reason once class has started. Do not interrupt your instructor or your fellow classmates if they are speaking; please raise your hand and wait your turn. No electronic object that makes noise. Also, no texting or using Facebook, etc. during class. Candy Crush Saga will wait. I will not. Plagiarism in any way is cheating. Copying and pasting passages from Internet sites counts as plagiarism. Quoting without attribution is plagiarism. All forms of cheating will be treated in accordance with UVM s policies on academic integrity. No profanity or obscenity. Pay attention and remain on task. Do not distract yourself or others. Turning in assignments: All assignments must be in hard copy printout form with black ink in 12-point standard font. I will not accept anything that is handwritten. Turning in assignments late: Don t. I do not accept late work. All class-related emails will be sent to your UVM email addresses. Email policy: Treat emails as formal business letters. No Internet spellings or emoticons. Begin with Dear Dr. (or Professor) Chiu and end with Sincerely, Your Name. In the subject line, put the course prefix and number (example: HCOL 186P: Question about Hamlet assignment ). This is sound policy for all your classes. Remember: YOU are responsible for your performance and success, not I. FOCUS. Remember, hard work beats raw talent when raw talent does not work hard. Come ready to engage! This class is interactive. Leave your bashfulness at the door as we read plays about something good, something bad, bit of both.
5 Reading Schedule (subject to change at instructor discretion) Week 1 Monday, August 25 First Day of Class Week 2 Monday, Sept. 1 Labor Day Holiday Week 3 Monday, Sept. 8 Add/Drop Deadline Plutarch s Life of Caesar, Brutus, Antony Week 4 Monday, Sept. 15 Antony and Cleopatra, Acts 4-5 Week 5 Monday, Sept. 22 Coriolanus, Act 4-5 Week 6 Monday, Sept. 29 Visit to Special Collections in Bailey-Howe Library. Guest speaker Jeff Marshall on Elizabethan book culture, the publication history of Shakespeare, and the Second Folio. Week 7 Monday, Oct. 6 Much Ado About Nothing, Acts 4-5 Week 8 Monday, Oct. 13 Discuss Much Ado About Wednesday, August 27 Introduction to Shakespeare: his life, times, and theatre Overview of Roman history (late Republic) Due: Material via Blackboard Wednesday, Sept. 3 Julius Caesar, Act 3 Wednesday, Sept. 10 Antony and Cleopatra, Acts 1-2 Wednesday, Sept. 17 Plutarch s Life of Antony Wednesday, Sept. 24 Plutarch s Life of Coriolanus Assign Plutarch projects (due in 1 week). Wednesday, Oct. 1 Plutarch papers due Intro to classical myth for Much Ado (i.e., pantheon) Wednesday, Oct. 8 Discuss the live theatre production of Much Ado. Turn in your review. Wednesday, Oct. 15 Comedy of Errors, Acts 1-3 Friday, August 29 Due: Julius Caesar, Acts 1-2 The first reading log entry is due today. Assume one is due every class from this point on unless I say otherwise. Friday, Sept. 5 Julius Caesar, Acts 4-5 Friday, Sept. 12 Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3 Friday, Sept. 19 Coriolanus, Acts 1-3 Friday, Sept. 26 Due: the 2011 Fiennes film version of Coriolanus. Turn in your review. Friday, Oct. 3 Much Ado About Nothing, Acts 1-3 Friday, Oct. 10 TBD Work on viewing the Branagh and Whedon films! Use your time wisely. Friday, Oct. 17 Comedy of Errors, Acts 4-5
6 Nothing on film; turn in your reviews of Branagh and Whedon. Week 9 Monday, Oct. 20 Plautus, Menaechmi and Amphitruo Week 10 Monday, Oct. 27 Withdrawal Deadline Classical mythology: Ovid s Metamorphoses in Golding and Lombardo translations Week 11 Monday, Nov. 3 Seneca, Thyestes; Kyd, Spanish Tragedy Assign declamations for Week 13 Week 12 Monday, Nov. 10 Hamlet Acts 4-5 Wednesday, Oct. 22 Twelfth Night, Acts 1-3 Wednesday, Oct. 29 A Midsummer Night s Dream, Acts 1-3 Wednesday, Nov. 5 Hamlet, Acts 1-2 Assign Hamlet on film (Olivier, Branagh, and Tennant); due in 1 week. Wednesday, Nov. 12 Discuss Hamlet on film. Friday, Oct. 24 Twelfth Night, Acts 4-5 Friday, Oct. 31 AMND Act 4-5 and also Rudd article Friday, Nov. 7 Hamlet, Act 3 Friday, Nov. 14 A day out of the theatre: Sonnets 38, 78, 85, 100, 101, 153, 154, as well as epyllion Assign topics for second Turn in your film reviews. (analytical) paper. Venus and Adonis Week 13 Monday, Nov. 17 Wednesday, Nov. 19 Friday, Nov. 21 Declamations Declamations Declamations (If you want feedback on your drafts, turn them in today, and I will return them Wednesday.) Break Monday. Nov. 24 Wednesday, Nov. 26 Friday, Nov. 28 Week 14 Monday, Dec. 1 TBD Wednesday, Dec. 3 Last Day of Class Final papers due FINAL EXAM: Friday, December 5, 2014 7:30-10:15 AM UHeights 016 FYI: All final exam times are listed here: https://giraffe.uvm.edu/~rgweb/batch/final_exams_fall.html
7 Questionnaire for HCOL 185P: Shakespeare and the Classical Tradition Name: Major/minor: Have you studied any Shakespeare before? If yes, which plays and when? Have you had any experience with Shakespeare in performance? If yes, please elaborate. Do you have a favorite Shakespeare play? Which one and why? Have you had any previous experience with ancient Roman history or classical mythology? How much and what kind? What do you hope to learn in this class? Be honest. What are you most frightened of in this class? Be honest. Tell me something about yourself. List every Shakespeare quotation you can off the top of your head. Do NOT look anything up!