|
|
|
English 6150/7150--Studies in Shakespeare Dr. Ayne Cantrell COURSE DESCRIPTION: For this semester's study of Shakespeare, we will examine selected plays from a feminist perspective, which means that gender issues will be the central focus of our analysis.You will be introduced to the history, theory, and methods of Shakespearean criticism, to feminist literary criticism in general, and to feminist approaches to Shakespeare's drama in particular, and you will be asked to engage in the practice and evaluation of feminist readings of the plays. COURSE OBJECTIVES: I hope that you will take from our course of study A renewed appreciation of Shakespeare's dramatic accomplishments, An understanding of how Shakespearean drama both reflects Renaissance culture and helped to shape that culture, especially in relation to considerations of gender, An understanding of the context of the emergence of feminist readings of Shakespeare in light of the development of 20th-century Shakespearean criticism and feminist literary criticism, An understanding of feminist approaches to Shakespeare's drama, A revised reading of selected tragedies and comedies that takes issues of gender as the subject of analysis, An evaluation of the appropriateness and usefulness of feminist criticism to you as a student of Shakespeare and as a critic of literature in general, and A commitment to the examination of the assumptions behind your reading conventions and strategies, whatever those may be. TEXTS: The Riverside Shakespeare (Evans, ed.)--you may use either the first or second edition. Gender Studies of English Renaissance Drama, Including Shakespeare: An Annotated Bibliography, Work in Progress 2001 (Cantrell) REQUIREMENTS: Reading--The plays that we will study together, and in the order that we will read them, are Taming of the Shrew (comedy, 1593-94) Writing-- Homework questions and reactions--To generate class discussion, for each play assigned come to class with (1) two questions that you want answered about the play and (2) two reactions to issues of gender operative in the play. These are due the first day each play is assigned. You will receive a grade on each homework assignment.Questions may be factual or interpretative and do not have to pertain to gender; these are questions that you don’t have answers for. Your reactions, however, must tackle gender matters and make comments. For suitable topics for your reactions, see the class handout "Thinking about Gender." Both questions and reactions should be typed and follow these guidelines: 1. Set up the first page of the assignment as you would for a first page of a
research paper (see MLA Handbook, 5th ed., 1999: 292) A researched critical analysis (10-12 pages, excluding works consulted) on a topic pertinent to our course of study The paper must explore a gender issue. Any play by Shakespeare is fair game, including those discussed in class. See class handout for particulars. A prospectus for the research paper (see class handout for particulars) A two-page written summary of an assigned book for class distribution to accompany an oral report on the same book (see 3.a below and class handout for particulars) Speaking-- An oral report (30 minutes) on an assigned book GRADING: The seminar paper counts 45% of the course grade, the book report and written summary 25%, homework Q&R 25%, and your response to another student's seminar paper 5%. I will award plus and minus grades both for individual assignments and for course grades, using the following grading scale: A = 4.0, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.0, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2.0,C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1.0, D- = .67, F = 0.
|
|
