Welcome to the Course!

 Welcome to our Spring 2021 semester Shakespeare class! This year, we're focusing on Shakespeare's Comedies, and in general, the various theories of comedy that Shakespeare largely helped to create. Besides reading 4 of his comedies (even if they're not always as 'funny' as we hope!), we'll also read works about the history of comedic theater, and how Shakespeare's definition of comedy has filtered in to modern movies and shows and changed the way we laugh and think about humor. You'll also have a chance to examine your own idea of comedy and help us find the 'Shakespeares' in contemporary society, since comedy is a genre that thrives on topicality--which is what makes Shakespeare so difficult (at times) to laugh at! 

Be sure to buy the five books for class, especially Bevis' Comedy: A Very Short Introduction, which we'll start reading for next week! Note that there are 5 comedies in the bookstore, though I'll be cutting The Winter's Tale for reasons of time (though feel free to buy it for your own enjoyment!). The syllabus is below, though I will give out hard copies in class this week. E-mail me with any questions at jgrasso@ecok.edu. See you in class!

English 3213: Shakespeare’s Comedies: Spring 2021

Tuesday / Thursday, 2:00-3:15

Dr. Joshua Grasso / jgrasso@ecok.edu (X 430)

Office Hours: MWF 10-11 & 1-2; TR 12-12:30

Class Website: ecushakespeare.blogspot.com

Course Description: In Matthew Bevis’ book, Comedy: A Very Short Introduction, he writes that “Comedy involves the construction of a creation myth you can live with” (14). Not surprisingly, comic plots are some of the oldest and most universal; they are the “creation myths” of our essential humanity—and they still make us laugh. No one understood this more than Shakespeare, whose comedies continue to hold the stage even after 400 years of performance. But why? What did he get right, and what “myths” do we trace back to his iconic plays? This class will answer these questions—and many more—using Shakespeare as a touchstone to understand why comedy is so vital to civilization. We’ll also discuss how to perform plays that seem offensive or even racist to modern audiences, and whether such plays can be redeemed (or are simply misunderstood). By the time we finish, you’ll have greater fluency in Shakespeare’s language and a sharp nose for the “smell” of Shakespeare in everything that passes for comedy in the 21st century.

Required Texts:

• Bevis, Comedy: A Very Short Introduction
• The Comedy of Errors (Folger ed.)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Folger ed.)
• The Taming of the Shrew (Folger ed.)
• The Merchant of Venice (Folger ed.)

Required Work (out of 100 pts.):

• In-Class Participation: see below
• Reading Responses: 20 pts.
• Blog Responses: 20 pts.
• Papers #1-2: 30 pts. (15 each)
• Paper #3 “Proposal”: 10 pts.
• Dramaturgical Presentation: 20 pts.  

In-Class Participation: Since we only meet once a week, coming to class is very important; this is our one chance to make difficult works ‘speak’ and to have wide-ranging discussions about the material. You are required to come to each class unless you are sick, have a verified case of COVID, or other concern (feel free to contact me). If you miss more than 2 classes for any unexcused reason, you’ll lose -10 pts. from your final grade (a letter grade, basically). So please keep me informed if things come up, and don’t hesitate to miss class if you’re sick or have a similar emergency.

REMEMBER: always bring a mask, your book, and an open mind! Leave your laptop and work for other classes at home…you won’t get participation points if you surf the web or do other work where I can see it. Don’t waste the opportunity to enrich the class with your insights or be enriched by someone else’s.

Reading Responses: You will have a set of response questions each time we begin a play (and when we read Bevis’ book) to help you engage actively with the reading. I typically give you four questions, of which you are expected to respond to two of them in a short paragraph. I will post all questions on the blog at the beginning of the week, and they will be due the following class day.

Blog Responses: As we conclude a play, I will give you a short video lecture to watch that raises questions about some of the ‘problems’ in each play. You will be expected to watch the video and respond with a ‘comment’ to a question I pose at the end. This functions very similarly to the reading responses, except you will only have a single question instead of four.

Papers #1-2: I will hand these out well in advance of their due date, and they will be posted on the blog as well. The first one concerns Chapters 1-4 of Bevis’ Comedy: A Very Short Introduction, while the second one covers our first two comedies (Comedy of Errors and A Midsummer Night’s Dream).

Paper #3 “Proposal”: This is a project which leads into your Final Presentation, and will be due in class on Week Fourteen. On Week Fifteen we will discuss these assignments in class as a way of preparing to write the Final Presentation assignment, which is basically your final exam.

Final Presentation: This is not necessarily a big project, but a thoughtful one: the entire class will be leading up to crafting an original response to producing Shakespeare’s comedies in the 21^st century based on historical context and our own cultural ethos. More on that after Spring Break (Week Ten).

THE FINE PRINT

1.       You must buy all the books for the course. Trying to use on-line summaries will doom you to vague, uninformed responses. If the goal of any class is to become more engaged with the material, reading the books is essential. Read and enjoy the material. :)

2.       If you miss class, check the blog to see if there are any new assignments or material. You can also e-mail me if the blog hasn’t been updated to be sure.

3.       When you e-mail work to me, check the attachments carefully. If I can’t open it (or it’s simply not attached) it doesn’t count. I will contact you if this happens, but the clock is ticking...if you turn in an e-mail without an attachment at 4:59 and the paper is due at 5, it might be late!

4.       If you have any kind of emergency, please contact me as soon as possible. If I know you’re going through something difficult, I can work with you and help you get the work. If you only tell me weeks or months later, it’s too late.

5.       The COVID situation can change our class dynamic at any time. If you’re confused by what’s going on or feel you can’t complete the work, etc., please contact me first. Let’s talk through it to make sure it’s not as bad (or as hard) as you think. I’m always available by e-mail and will respond within an hour or two at most (unless you e-mail me at one o’clock in the morning!).

6.       Academic Integrity link: https://www.ecok.edu/sites/default/files/siteContent/administration/academic-affairs/documents/AcademicIntegrityPolicy.pdf

ADA Statement: East Central University is committed to providing equal access to University programs and services for all students. Under university policy and federal and state laws, students with documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations. If any member of the class has a documented disability requiring academic accommodations, he or she should report to the Office of Disability Services.  A student seeking reasonable accommodations originating from a documented disability must register with the Office of Disability Services so that said accommodations may be provided. Contact the Academic Affairs Office if any assistance is needed in this process.

72-Hour Transition Statement: Should on-campus instruction be suspended for any reason, ECU’s face-to-face and blended courses will transition to online/virtual delivery within 72 hours.  Online courses will continue as scheduled.

Tentative Course Schedule:

 

WEEK ONE (Jan.11-15)

Discussion: Introduction to the Course

Reading Homework: Bevis, Chapters 1-2

Writing Homework: Reading Questions for Bevis

 

WEEK TWO (18-22)

Discussion: Bevis, Chapters 1-2

Reading Homework: Bevis, Chapters 3-4

Writing Homework: Blog Response #1

 

WEEK THREE (25-29)

Discussion: Bevis, Chapters 3-4 & Paper #1

Reading Homework: Handouts

Writing Homework: Work on Paper #1!

 

WEEK FOUR (Feb.2-5) Paper #1 due Friday @ 5pm!

Discussion: Reading Shakespeare’s Language

Reading Homework: The Comedy of Errors, Acts 1-2

Writing Homework: Reading Questions for The Comedy of Errors

 

WEEK FIVE (8-12)

Discussion: Acts 1-2 of The Comedy of Errors

Reading Homework: The Comedy of Errors, Acts 3-5

Writing Homework: Blog Response #2

 

WEEK SIX (15-19)

Discussion: Acts 3-5 of The Comedy of Errors

Reading Homework: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Acts 1-2

Writing Homework: Response Questions for A Midsummer Night’s Dream

 

WEEK SEVEN (22-26)

Discussion: Acts 1-2 of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Reading Homework: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Acts 3-5

Writing Homework: Blog Response #3

 

WEEK EIGHT (Mar.2-5)

Discussion: Acts 3-5 of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Reading Homework: Bevis, Chapters 5-6

Writing Homework: Paper #2 due next week!

 

WEEK NINE (8-12) Paper #2 due by Thursday @ 5pm

Discussion: Bevis, Chapters 5-6

Reading Homework: The Taming of the Shrew, Acts 1-2

Writing Homework: Response Questions for The Taming of the Shrew

 

WEEK TEN (15-19): SPRING BREAK

Discussion: None

Reading Homework: The Taming of the Shrew, Acts 3-5

Writing Homework: Blog Response #4

 

WEEK ELEVEN (22-26)

Discussion: Acts 1-5 of The Taming of the Shrew

Reading Homework: The Merchant of Venice, Acts 1-2

Writing Homework: Response Questions for The Merchant of Venice

 

WEEK TWELVE (29-Apr.2)

Discussion: Acts 1-2 of The Merchant of Venice

Reading Homework: The Merchant of Venice, Acts 3-5

Writing Homework: Blog Response #5

 

WEEK THIRTEEN (5-9)

Discussion: Acts 3-5 of The Merchant of Venice

Reading Homework: Bevis, Chapters 7-8

Writing Homework: Paper #3 “Proposal” due next week!

 

WEEK FOURTEEN (12-16) Paper #3 due IN-CLASS!

Discussion: Bevis, Chs.7-8

Reading Homework: Paper #3 Handouts

Writing Homework: Response Questions for Handouts

 

WEEK FIFTEEN (19-23)

Discussion: Paper #3 Handouts

Reading Homework: Articles (TBA)

Writing Homework: Blog Response #6

 

WEEK SIXTEEN (26-30)

Discussion: Articles

Reading Homework: None!

Writing Homework: Work on Final Presentation!

 

Final Presentation due by Thursday, May 6^th @ 5pm