We will study five representative plays from the first part of Shakespeare's career, often in conjunction with film adapations of the works. The five plays are The Taming of the Shrew, Richard II, The Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, and The Winter's Tale. Students are expected to read each play at least twice and attend lectures Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as the film screenings or discussion sessions Thursday evenings. The tests and exam will expect high familiarity with the plays, films, lectures, and discussions. Lectures will not proceed in narrative order through the individual plays but will discuss dominant themes and issues addressed by each play in its entirety. There will be a scantron test after the study of each play (the best four out of five test scores will be counted). There will also be a final scantron exam covering all of the material in the course. In addition, students are required to participate in lectures and discussions with i-clicker and also to write a short film analysis (3 pages) and a short critical paper on one of the first three plays studied in the course (possible topics will be announced).

There are no TA-lead sections for this course. There is an honors section, on Thurdays 2:00-2:50 in the Early Modern Center (SH 2510). Additional meetings will occur on Thursday evenings for the entire class.

This Shakespeare class is one of a large number of offerings by the English Department's faculty in the early modern period (1500-1800). Students taking early modern classes are encouraged to drop by the Early Modern Center (SH 2510) and use its facilities during its open hours (facilities include a small research library and computers with access to the latest databases in early modern studies). A graduate student TA (The Early Modern Center Fellow), Danielle Davey, will be available to help you with any questions or problems you might have operating the equipment. The Center will be open for several hours every day.

Students interested in English literature 1500-1800 are also encouraged to make a specialization of Early Modern Studies. The English Department currently offers four specializations within the English major, including Early Modern Studies. Students qualify for an EMS specialization when they take four elective courses in English or American literature covering all or part of the period 1500-1800. For more information see Early Modern Studies. If you are interested in signing up for the specialization, please fill out the one-page form with the Department's Acting Undergraduate Advisor, Nick Alward . Also, if you are interested in being included in the online mailings for undergraduate early modern studies (emus), please contact Danielle Davey.