EN 363 B1 Shakespeare I

Fall 2015 (T/R 9:30-11:00) SED 212

Professor Siemon

I. Phone and Office: 358-2560 (including voice mail); 236 Bay State Road, Room 532. Email:
jsiemon@bu.edu. Office hours: in English Dept. T 11-1:00; R 1-2:00; other times by apt.

II. Texts (available at Boston University Book Store):

Richard II (Folger) As You Like It (Folger)
Henry IV, Part One (Arden 3) Othello (Bedford Texts & Contexts)
Hamlet (Cambridge) Winters Tale (Penguin/Signet)
Russ McDonald, The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare
These editions represent a range of approaches to editing, annotation and documentation; some of
them also contain readings that will be assigned or suggested. McDonald is an excellent first-
resource for questions about Shakespeare's plays and the culture of early modern England. Some
other editions are acceptable for certain plays, and Ill discuss them with you individually. The
currently available Oxford Shakespeare: Complete Works and the Norton Shakespeare: Complete
Works are not acceptable.

III. Audio: Plays are available for listening in the music and audio area of Mugar Library.

IV. Video: Videos of productions of the plays will be available for individual or group viewing in
the Geddes Language Center (5th floor CAS). Details TBA.

V. Online: A. Course Website via Blackboard Learn (details TBA)

B. Other Resources, including theatre history, criticism and scholarship, searchable
Shakespeare, the First Folio and the earliest quarto editions, via
http://www.bu.edu/library/research/collections/databases/ World Shakespeare Bibliography,
Oxford English Dictionary, Early English Books Online, JSTOR (for Shakespeare Quarterly,
PMLA) etc.

VI. Suggestions and Requirements:

A. Read each play by the first meeting for it. Read each play more than once. See them!
B. Read Shakespeare, Shakespeare, etc in McDonald as soon as possible.
C. Read the editors introduction for each play. You will be asked to read selected
material from the essays and sources in the various editions. Some of this material is noted
parenthetically under specific dates in the syllabus; other readings will be added as appropriate.
D. See me! Everyone will come during office hours once early in the semester, at least, to
talk about the course and your goals. Well make appointments for this soon.
E. Class participation is important part to this class; therefore regular attendance is
necessary. More than three unexcused absences will lower your grade.
F. Laptops, phones, tablets and any other digital devices are not to be used during class
and must be turned off and put away.
G. Two exams: Thursday, 15 October and Tuesday, 15 December. Each exam will be
devoted to three plays and will require you to explicate passages and answer objective questions
concerning them.
H. Two Papers:
1. Response Exercise: Reading Shakespeares Language
Length: 2 to 3 (no more than 4) typed, double-spaced pages
Subject: Word by word analysis of whats important in assigned passage, attention to vocabulary,
syntax, metaphors, possibly meter or Quarto/Folio textual variants; no thesis or conclusion
required
Requirements: access to OED online edition and EEBO for early texts of Richard II via
http://www.bu.edu/library/research/collections/databases/
Due Date: Tuesday, Sept 22

2. Formal paper
Length: 6 to 8 pages maximum, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt font
Topic: To be determined in consultation, topics suggested
Requirements: Thesis, and attention to grammar, argument, notes, formalities of citation, etc.
Due Dates
1) TUESDAY, Nov 24 Proposal, one paragraph via email (no attachments) to
jsiemon@bu.edu
2) TUESDAY, Dec 8 Final Paper, hard copy only, no email or attached files

H. Grade breakdown: 2 exams=40% total (weighted 40/60); attendance/

participation=10%; passage paper=10%; long paper=40%

CLASS SCHEDULE

SEPTEMBER
R 03 Introduction

T 08 Richard II (Acts 1 & 2) (McDonald, Shakespeare's Dramatic Language)

R 10 (McDonald, Politics and Religion)

T 15
R 17 Richard II (Conclude), 1 Henry IV (Act 1)

T 22 (McDonald, History) [Language Paper Due]

R 24

T 29 As You Like It (McDonald, Comedy)

OCTOBER
R 01

T 06 (McDonald, Men and Women)

R 08 Review

T 13 No Class Its a Monday at BU

R 15 Mid-Semester Exam

T 20 Hamlet (McDonald, Tragedy)

R 22
T 27 (McDonald, What is Your Text?)
R 29

NOVEMBER
T 03
R 05 Othello (Hall, Othello Readings TBA)

T 10
R 12

T 17
R 19 The Winters Tale (McDonald, Romance)

T 24 [1 Proposal to jsiemon@bu.edu]
R 26 HOLIDAY

DECEMBER
T 01 The Winters Tale
R 03

T 08 [FINAL PAPER DUE]

R 10 Review
FINAL EXAM SCHEDULED BY BU: Tuesday, 15 December, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Note: All dates except the final exam are subject to change!