Course Description
A survey of literature written by Shakespeare throughout his career.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
In addition to fulfilling all the undergraduate requirements
for the class, graduate students will:
1. Develop a familiarity with appropriate secondary material,
and demonstrate this expertise in different ways (for example,
through the construction of annotated bibliographies, through
in-class presentations, or through the development of
pedagogical tools for undergraduates)
2. Become aware of professional issues within the scholarly
field (for example, by reading book reviews or attending
conferences in the field)
3. Draft, write, and revise (in consultation with the
instructor) a 20pp. essay with the potential for publication
Athena Title
Shakespeare I: Selected Works
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ENGL 4320E, ENGL 4320W or ENGL 6320E
Undergraduate Prerequisite
Two 2000-level ENGL courses or (one 2000-level ENGL course and one 3000-level ENGL course) or (one 2000-level ENGL course and one 2000-level CMLT course)
Graduate Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to one of England's most famous authors, William Shakespeare. We hope that by the end of the term students will: 1. share in the pleasure of reading work that has delighted English speakers for over four centuries; 2. learn about how an earlier culture confronted experiences and problems that continue to concern us and how our perceptions and tastes have changed over the centuries; 3. hone skills in the reading and analyzing of drama and poetry; 4. hone skills in the writing of a focused and coherent argument.
Topical Outline
Readings will include 1. plays and poems by Shakespeare 2. secondary material (required for graduate students; at instructor's discretion for undergraduates) Topics to be covered may include: 1. the life and times of William Shakespeare 2. the history and culture of Renaissance England 3. the drama and poetry of Shakespeare.
Syllabus