English 205-01 Spring 2009 Daily Assignment Schedule
Jan. 27 Course Introduction
HW: Read General Introduction (1-30, 42-67, 76-78)
Jan. 29 Shakespeare as author, historical context of the plays
HW: Read “Theatrical Innovations,” (40-42), “The Shakespearean
Stage,” (79-99), Introduction through Act I.ii of Hamlet (103-126)
Feb. 3 Discuss Shakespearean stage
HW: Read Hamlet Act I.iii to Act III (126-152)
Feb. 5 Discuss meta-drama
HW: Read “Dream of the Master Text” (67-74) &
Hamlet Act III (152-172)
Feb. 10 Discuss textual production, textual variations
Distribution, discussion of 1st essay assignment.
HW: Finish Hamlet (173-204)
Feb. 12 Conclude Hamlet
HW: Read Intro. through Act III Macbeth(835-877)
Feb. 17 Discuss weird sisters, use of antithesis in play
HW: Conclude Macbeth (877-898)
Feb. 19 Discuss tragic hero (Hamlet) vs. tragic anti-hero (Macbeth)
HW: Read Intro. through Act I of Romeo and Juliet (897-922)
Complete essay #1
Feb. 24 1st Essay Due
Discuss youthful tragedy of love
HW: Read Romeo and Juliet Act II through III (922-954) and read “The
Playing Field,” (30-40)
Feb. 26 Discuss Mercutio as consummate actor
HW: Conclude Romeo and Juliet (954-972)
March 3 Discuss role of time in the three tragedies we have read
HW: Read “The Sonnets” (1745-1751 and 1797-1807)
Begin reviewing for mid-term exam; bring any study questions you might
have to class on Thursday
March 5 Discuss sonnets, review for mid-term exam.
HW: Study for mid-term exam
March 10 Mid-Term Exam
HW: Read Introduction through Act II of 1 Henry IV (1177-1221)
March 12 Discuss 1 Henry IV (Court vs. Tavern, Act II hints of Hal’s reform)
HW: Read 1 Henry IV Act III (1221-1235)
March 24 Discuss 1 Henry IV (female characters, Hal’s promised reforms)
HW: Finish 1 Henry IV (1235-1254)
March 26 Conclude 1 Henry IV
HW: Read Introduction through Act I of 2 Henry IV (1321-1347)
March 31 Discuss Rumor, Hal’s good, bad angels
HW: Read 2 Henry IV Acts II through IV.ii (1348-1385)
April 2 Distribution, discussion of 2nd essay assignment
Discuss women and class issues in 2 Henry IV
HW: Finish 2 Henry IV (1385-1405)
April 7 Conclude 2 Henry IV (Rejection of Falstaff)
HW: Read Intro. through Act II Midsummer Night’s Dream (839-866)
April 9 Discuss parallel worlds of Athens and the fairy wood
HW: Read Midsummer Night’s Dream Acts III through IV (866-886)
April 14 Discuss ambiguous gender role dynamics in fairy wood
HW: Finish Midsummer Night’s Dream (886-896)
Compare Theseus’s opening speech in 5.1 with the versions on Internet Shakespeare Editions (external link on Blackboard)
April 16 Discuss competing versions of Theseus’s speech on lover, madman & poet
HW: Read Intro. through Act I The Tempest (1321-1345)
April 21 Discuss hybrid genre of “romance”
HW: Read The Tempest Act II through Act III (1345-1366)
April 23 Discuss characterization of “air spirit”, “human”, “monster”
HW: Finish The Tempest (1366-1381)
Complete essay #2
April 28 2nd Essay DUE
Conclude The Tempest
HW: Read Twelfth Night, Intro through Act I (1683-1704)
April 30 Discuss festive comedy; Shakespeare’s use of twins
HW: Read Twelfth Night, Acts II through IV (1704-1735)
May 5 Discuss poetic forms embedded in play (songs, lovers complaint, blazon)
HW: Compete Twelfth Night (1735-1744)
Begin reviewing for final exam, bring questions to class on Thursday
May 7 Review for final exam.
HW: Study for final exam