Shakespeare: Text and Performance
English 425/10493
3 Credits
W 6.00 – 8.45 pm
Duda Hall 116
M. G. Aune
Office Hours: TTh 10.00 – 11.30 & W 3.00-6.00
and by appointment
aune(at)cup.edu
724.938.4341
223 Azorsky Hall
Prerequisite
ENG -101 or HON -150
and ENG -102 or HON -250.
Gen Ed: Humanities
Catalog Description
Explores in considerable depth, and with special reference to the condition of
Shakespeare’s times and theater, some of his greatest plays, especially (a)
those most often studied in secondary school and (b) his great tragedies.
Description
As the introduction
to our text puts it as regards the original publication of Shakespeare’s plays,
“[t]he public was . . . never meant to be in a direct relationship with the
author but in a ‘triangular relationship’ in which the players gave voice and
gesture to the author’s words” (75).
In other words, for Shakespeare’s audience, his
plays were mediated by the actors in his company.
For us, in an English course, Shakespeare’s plays
are mediated by another group: editors and publishers.
Thus our experience of Shakespeare, either as a book
we read, a play we attend, or a film we screen, is always being interfered with
by someone.
In this class we will examine Shakespeare’s plays and poems
in terms of how they are mediated and how we mediate them.
We will read, analyze, and discuss them.
But we will also view, edit, and perform them better
to learn how mediation functions, materially and ideologically, and perhaps
better to understand why people still bother with Shakespeare so long after his
death.
The semester will have two parts.
The first will concern textual analysis and editing
and conclude with an editing project. The second part will concern performance
and will conclude with a performance project.
In addition, there will be occasionally quizzes on
the homework and lectures, and three précis on theoretical essays that will be
helpful to you in your two projects.
Text
Norton
Shakespeare, Second Edition
A dictionary, bring to every class
Additional readings that will be available on the Blackboard site and listed on
the calendar.
Grading |
|
Scale |
|
University Interpretation |
Editing Project |
100 points |
100–94% |
A |
Superior Achievement |
Review Project |
100 points |
90–93% |
A- |
|
Performance Project |
200 points |
87–89% |
B+ |
|
10 Quizzes |
100 points |
84-86%
|
B |
Above Average |
|
|
80-83% - |
B |
|
Total
|
500 points |
77-79%
|
C+ |
|
|
|
74-76%
|
C |
Average |
|
|
70-73%
|
C- |
|
|
|
60-69%
|
D |
Below Average |
|
|
Below 60 |
F |
Failure |
Grade Guidelines
These descriptions apply to the final grade in
the class and the score on particular assignments.
A
work is outstanding.
It goes beyond the basic requirements of the
assignment and the class.
The work shows evidence of critical and original
thinking.
Ideas are clearly supported and explained.
C
work is satisfactory.
It shows familiarity with though not a complete
understanding of the given task and rules for writing as set out in the
syllabus.
Thought shows inconsistent critical engagement or
originality.
Ideas are too broad and not clearly supported with
evidence.
Writing tends to summarize or describe rather than analyze.
D
work is below average.
It shows an inconsistent understanding of the given
task, text, and rules.
Thought and writing are often disorganized and do
not communicate an understanding of audience or genre.
Paper seems to be written quickly with little
attention to revision or proofreading.
F
work is unsatisfactory.
It shows little if any understanding of the given
task, text, or rules.
Thought and writing are disorganized and do not
communicate an understanding of audience or genre.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities reserve the right to self-identify; must register
with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) to receive services; will
provide the appropriate notice from OSD for accommodations that specifically
involve faculty.
Requests for approval for reasonable accommodations should be
directed to OSD.
Approved accommodations will be recorded on the ODS
Accommodation Approval notice and provided to the student.
Students are expected to adhere to the ODS
procedures for self-identifying, providing documentation and requesting
accommodations in a timely manner.
The OSD is located in Azorsky 105 and the telephone
number is 724.938.5781.
Academic Honesty
According to the University Bulletin, “[t]ruth and honesty are necessary
prerequisites for all education, and students who attempt to improve their
grades or class standing through any form of academic dishonesty may be
penalized by disciplinary action ranging from a verbal reprimand to a failing
grade in the course or dismissal from the University. If the situation appears
to merit a severe penalty, the professor will refer the matter to the
appropriate dean or to the Provost. The student may appeal the penalty as
outlined above with the Academic Integrity Committee hearing appeals above the
level of Dean.”
I assume that all work you
turn in for this course is yours, and any material that you have acquired from
an outside source is documented properly.
Failure to do so is considered plagiarism and, per
University policy, may result in failure of the assignment, of the course or
dismissal from the University.
You are responsible for turning in all work assigned in this class on time.
Late papers will lose ten points per day until they
are turned in.
Any paper not turned in will receive a score of zero.
Paper Format
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments are to be type-written, double-spaced,
with one-inch margins, in twelve-point Times font.
Your name, the date, the class, my name and the
assignment are to be on the top of the first page.
Do not forget to title your work.
Any papers longer than one page must have page
numbers and be stapled.
Attendance and Participation
According to the University Catalogue, “[r]egular class attendance is a
prerequisite to successful class performance.”
Important parts of the work for this course will be
done in small and large groups.
This means that your consistent presence is
important to the success of the class as a whole.
If you are unable to attend class, you must contact
me via phone or email within twenty-four hours.
You are still responsible for any work done or due
in class that day.
Similarly, you are responsible for contacting your
group members if you miss a class.
If you are more than fifteen minutes late to a class
meeting or if you leave early, you will be considered absent.
Participation includes not only contributing to class
discussion, it also covers prompt attendance, listening and responding
constructively to your classmates, attending class prepared to discuss the
readings, and bringing your books and writing material to every class meeting.
If you attend class but are unprepared to discuss
the homework, or do not have your books or writing material, you will be
considered absent.
If you accumulate two absences, you may lose one
letter grade from your final grade.
If you miss three or more classes, you will not pass
the class.
This syllabus makes no
distinctions between excused and unexcused absences.
If you are a member of a sports team or other
university organization and must miss a course because of that commitment, you
must have your coach or advisor contact me in writing (not via phone or email)
at least two weeks before the absence.
Cell Phones
Please turn off cell phones before class begins.
If you are expecting a very important phone call,
turn your phone to silent mode and leave the room if it rings.
If you use your phone during class, you will be
asked to leave and marked absent for that day.