English 285 - Schedule and Assignments

English 285 - Drama: The Changing Space of Culture - Schedule and Assignments, Fall 2006

Click here for Course Policies
Click here for Course Objectives & General Notes
Click here for Dr. Justice's Home Page

NOTE 8/24/2006:
All links active save for final.

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Daily Responsibilities:

1. Reading Assignments are to be completed for the day they appear in the schedule.

2. Please come to every class prepared for a short, detailed quiz on the day's reading. You will be asked to identify speakers of lines, importance of lines, and other factual information about the reading. Quizzes will be taken on attendance cards.

3. Take notes as you read, and come prepared with three questions about the reading or the previous lecture or discussion.

4. You will be asked to submit the questions for addressing during class. Questions will be written on attendance cards.

5. As the course continues, please be prepared to discuss the day's reading in the context of all prior discussions.

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Disclaimer: A syllabus may evolve according to the needs of a particular class, and is therefore subject to change. An announcement will be made in class when there are updates to this page.

Promise: Major due dates and grading policies will not be changed.

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Calendar:

Week 1

T: Lecture: Course Overview; Introduction to Drama; Origins of Western Drama; Introduction to Athenian Theatron. Click here for Scan of "Elements of Drama" overhead.

Th: Reading: Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, pp. 3-26: Prologue, Parados, Scene I, Ode I (end at Creon's line: "Men of Thebes:...")
Note: Please be aware that there is an index of names in the back of the Sophocles book that may be of some use to you.
Web Reading: Origins of Western Drama I - From the Nile to Athens
Lecture: Origins & Introduction, continued; Introduction to Sophocles' Oedipus (bring book to class)

Week 2

T: Reading: Sophocles, Oedipus, pp. 27-66: Scene II, Ode II, Scene III, Ode III, Scene IV, Ode IV (end at Exodos) (Scene IV and Ode IV may be discussed on Thursday.)

Th: Reading: Sophocles, Oedipus, pp. 67-end: Exodos.


Week 3 - Click here for Assignment #1

T: Reading: Sophocles, Antigone (entire play)

Th: Antigone discussion, continued.(entire play)


Week 4 - Assignment #1 Due At Beginning of Class on Thursday

If you are not used to reading Shakespeare, you should use this week's light reading schedule to begin reading Richard III. Regarding the language - the footnotes are your friends. It gets easier with practice.

T: Lecture: Theatre History and Culture from Athens to Shakespeare
Web Materials: Origins of Western Drama II: Roman Empire
Origins of Western Drama III.i: Medieval (Liturgical)
Origins of Western Drama III.ii: Medieval to Gothic (Liturgical)

Th: Lecture: Shakespeare's Theatre, Shakespeare's England

Week 5

T: Lecture: Shakespeare's Language

Th: Reading: Shakespeare, Richard III, I.i

Web Reference: The Houses of Lancaster, York, and Tudor - use this if you get confused by characters in Richard III.
Video excerpts may be shown from Looking for Richard and Ian McKellan's Richard III


Week 6

T: Reading: Shakespeare, Richard III, Remainder of Act I
Video excerpts may be shown from Looking for Richard and Ian McKellan's Richard III

Th: Reading: Shakespeare, Richard III, Act II

Week 7

T: Reading: Shakespeare, Richard III, Act III

Th: Reading: Shakespeare, Richard III, Act IV

Week 8 - Click here for Richard III Language Assignment Do not attempt to do this assignment without first finishing Richard III!

T: Reading: Shakespeare, Richard III, Act V

Th: Reading: Shakespeare, Richard III, wrap-up


Week 9 - Richard IIILanguage Assignment Due At Beginning of Class Tuesday

T: Richard III Language Assignment Due At Beginning of Class
Reading: Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act I.i-ii
Web work (strongly recommended): Study questions Act I

How to use the study questions for Hamlet:
Tip for success:
1. Read the Act through once without worrying about the questions.
2. Read the questions.
3. Re-read the Act and answer the study questions as you go.

Th: Reading: Shakespeare, Hamlet, remainder of Act I


Week 10

T: Reading: Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act II
Web work (strongly recommended): Study questions Act II

Th: Reading: Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III
Web work (strongly recommended): Study questions Act III


Week 11

T: Reading: Shakespeare, Hamlet, Acts IV & V
Web work (strongly recommended): Study questions Act IV
Web work (strongly recommended): Study questions Act V

Th: Lecture: From Shakespeare's Globe to the Proscenium Arch - Advances in Theatre Design and Technology
Video excerpts may be shown from Phantom of the Opera and Cyrano de Bergerac


Week 12 - Click here for guidelines for Cyrano Assignment (Pedagogy Assignment Required for English Ed majors; students in other majors may choose Pedagogy Assignment or Critical Essay Assignment.)

T: Reading: Rostand, Cyrano, Act I

Th: Reading: Rostand, Cyrano, Act II


Week 13 - Assignment #3 Due Thursday

T: Reading: Rostand, Cyrano, Act III
Please remind Dr. Justice to tell the story of why dress rehearsals are important.

Th: Reading: Rostand, Cyrano, Acts IV & V

Reminder, with a caveat: The date for final performances fast approacheth...

Week 14

T: A Doll's House (entire play)

Th: A Doll's House discussion, continued.

Week 15

T: Amadeus (entire play)

Th: Amadeus discussion, continued.

Final Projects Due at Date and Time scheduled by University Regsitrar for the final exam.
No extensions, no exceptions.