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Eng 549 — Spring 2004
Shakespeare and Jonson
Dr. Kristen McDermott
Office: AN 220 Phone: 774-3364
Office Hours: TR 11AM-12Noon, 2-2:30PM, and by appointment
email me:Study Guide: The Alchemist
Synopsis: Bartholomew Fair
COURSE RATIONALE: This seminar course invites students to deepen their study of Shakespeare’s plays by reading them in the context of the work of other playwrights contemporary to Shakespeare; in this way we will explore the diverse character of the English stage during its most prolific and artistically innovative early period – the first decades of the 17th century. Plays have been paired according to theme, style, and/or chronology; some topics this course will address include:
Ø The history of the English stage, 1590-1620 — particularly those figures and forms not covered by Shakespeare’s work.
Ø The personal and professional biographies of the two playwrights, and their separate literary reputations.
Ø How political, social, religious, and/or economic conditions in the time period are reflected by the drama of these playwrights.
Ø Their comparative dramatic strategies, particularly relating to genre, style, and influences.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: — On the basis of assigned readings, class discussions and various written assignments, the student will be able to do the following:
Ø Demonstrate a familiarity with the biographies of each playwright
Ø Demonstrate a familiarity with selected, representative plays by each playwright
Ø Demonstrate an awareness of the history of the Early Modern English Stage, both in general and as it relates to Shakespeare studies in particular — the acting companies, the various theater spaces, the politics of patronage, the court and King James’s relation to dramatic art.
Ø Demonstrate an awareness of the performance history of Shakespeare’s and Jonson’s plays.
Ø Be able to discuss the comparative critical heritage of the two playwrights
Ø Write a 15-20 page research paper on a topic related to one or more of the syllabus texts.
Ø Develop a multimedia and/or oral presentation serving the contexts of the course on one of the texts.
Ø Prepare discussion questions (based on assigned readings) that relate the primary texts to their critical and biographical contexts.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
(Note: if you already own a Complete Works of Shakespeare, you may use that edition)
Jonson, Ben. The Alchemist and Other Plays. Oxford Classics (Volpone, Epicene, The Alchemist, Bartholomew Fair). ISBN 0-19-283446-0
Jonson, Ben. The Masque of Blackness. Handout supplied by instructor.
Jonson, Ben. The Masque of Queens. Handout supplied by instructor
William Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra, Arden, ed. Wilders; Paperback ISBN 0415011035
William Shakespeare, King Lear, Arden, ed. Muir; Paperback ISBN: XXX
William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Arden, ed. Muir; Paperback ISBN: 1903436486
William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, Arden, ed. Lever; Paperback ISBN: 1903436443
William Shakespeare, Othello, Arden, ed. Honigmann; Paperback ISBN 1903436451
William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Arden, ed. Vaughan; Paperback ISBN 0174435355
Supplementary articles supplied by the instructor
ASSIGNMENTS:
Students will be expected to write responses to both the plays and the critical articles. In addition, discussion topics will be assigned for one-page responses several times during the semester.
Each student will write a 15-20 page research paper on a topic related to the course. Graduate students will, in addition, lead one class discussion and provide an annotated bibliography for their research paper. Details will be provided in a separate handout.
Each student will present two oral reports: one (10-15 minutes) to be selected from a list of topics, and the other (5-10 minutes) to be a presentation (at the end of the semester) of his/her research topic.
OTHER COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Your attendance is required for this class, as its content will consist chiefly of discussion. In case of illness or emergency please contact me promptly by phone or email (or both). I check both my voicemail and email several times daily. Courses missed for purposes of religious observance or official University business will not be penalized, but I expect to be notified ahead of time.
CMU provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities or services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodation to participate in class activities or meet course requirements should first register with the Office of Student Disability Services (250 Foust Hall, phone 517.774.3018, TDD #2568), and then contact me as soon as possible.
GRADING:
Discussion papers:
20%
Oral reports:
20%
Research Paper:
40%
Class participation:
20%
ACADEMIC HONESTY: CMU’s policy states: “Because academic integrity is a cornerstone of the University’s commitment to the principles of free inquiry, students are responsible for learning and upholding professional standards of research, writing, assessment, and ethics in their areas of study. In the academic community the high value placed on truth implies a corresponding intolerance of scholastic dishonesty. Written or other work which students submit must be the product of their own efforts and must be consistent with appropriate standards of professional ethics. Academic dishonesty, which includes cheating, plagiarism and other forms of dishonest or unethical behavior, is prohibited.”
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Note: Complete plays must be read (or re-read) before the FIRST class meeting in which they are discussed. Supplementary articles must be read before the class meeting for which they are listed. Schedule subject to change as needed.
M-1/19
Introduction: Parallel poets and their stages
M-1/26
Shakespeare — Othello (1604)
(article) Alvin Kernan, “Shakespeare and Jonson’s View of Public Theatre Audiences,”
M-2/2
Jonson — The Masque of Blackness (1605) (handout)
(article) Joyce Green MacDonald, “‘The Force of Imagination’: The Subject of Blackness in Shakespeare, Jonson, and Ravenscroft”
M-2/9
Shakespeare — Measure for Measure (1604)
(article) Nancy Leonard, “Shakespeare and Jonson Again: The Comic Forms”
M-2/16
Jonson — Epicene (1603)
(article TBA)
M-2/23
Shakespeare — Troilus and Cressida (1606)
(article TBA)
M-3/1
Research Conferences – no class
SPRING BREAK
M-3/15
Shakespeare – King Lear (1605)
(article TBA)
M-3/22
Jonson — Volpone (1606)
(article) Brian F. Tyson, “Ben Jonson's Black Comedy: A Connection between Othello and Volpone”
M-3/29
Shakespeare — Macbeth (1606)
(article TBA)
M-4/5
Jonson — The Masque of Queens (1609)
(article TBA)
M-4/12
Jonson — The Alchemist (1610)
(article TBA)
M-4/19
Shakespeare — The Tempest (1613)
(article TBA)
M-4/26
Jonson — Bartholomew Fair (1614)
(article TBA)
M-5/3
oral reports on research papers
A fabulous timeline for Elizabethan/Jacobean political history
