Shakespeare In Three Plays

Syllabus

William Shakespeare, Chandos Portrait,
National Portrait Gallery

Contact Information:  David C. Judkins, Instructor
email: djudkins@uh.edu
ph. 864-3804

Introduction:  This class will provide a quick and light ramble through three of Shakespeare's plays which will allow for a brief overview of the playwright's interests, style, and issues.  The three plays: Richard II, King Lear, and The Tempest, are among Shakespeare's most interesting and provocative dramas.  However, I find they are not plays well known by the average, well educated and thoughtful adult.  Thus it is my hope that although nearly everyone has heard of these plays, many taking the class have not actually read or even seen the plays.  For instance, none of these plays is the subject of a popular film adaptation over the past twenty years as we have seen with Richard III, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry V, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merchant of Venice, and Twelfth Night.  It also strikes me that at least two of the plays, King Lear and The Tempest, address issues that are of particular interest to the mature adults.  The play with which we will begin presents us with some of the finest poetry in all of Shakespeare's drama, and will therefore allow us to discuss Shakespeare's language, style, and poetic form.

Requirements:  There are no requirements for the class.  There will be no quizzes or exams.  Members of the class are requested to read the plays or at least part of the plays before class meetings. 

Books:  I have ordered the four books listed below and I will be referring to these specific books during class; however, you may use any edition of Shakespeare's plays which may be in your possession.  The three texts I have selected are relatively inexpensive, academically sound, and the notes are, I believe, somewhat easier to follow.  The fourth book is a recently published book on Shakespeare and background material.  Bill Bryson is not an academic, but he is a very successful author, and I believe I have read every book he has written.  His book on Shakespeare, published in November of 2006, is short, sound, and mildly humorous. I hope all members of the class will enjoy Bryson's light, and somewhat irreverent review of Shakespeare scholarship.  These books are available in limited numbers at the Hill Country Book Store on the square in downtown Georgetown.

Please note that it is not required that you purchase any books for this class.

         Richard II, by William Shakespeare, New Folger Library Edition, eds. Mowat and Werstine. $4.99
         King Lear, by William Shakespeare, New Folger Library Edition, eds. Mowat and Werstine. $5.99
         The Tempest,  by William Shakespeare, New Folger Library Edition, eds. Mowat and Werstine. $5.99
         Shakespeare, by Bill Bryson, Atlas Books a division of Harper Collins. $19.95

Calendar:.  This class will meet on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 in room E210, that is the educational building of the First Baptist Church, which is located on the southeast corner of Highway 29 and D.B. Wood Drive just west of Georgetown.   Please understand that my notes on the general direction for discussion on a given day are tentative.  Depending on the dynamics of the class, our discussion may lead us down a variety of paths.

       January 29, First Meeting.  Distribute Syllabus, present background material on Elizabethan Drama, Shakespeare's life, and Elizabethan society.  Begin discussion of Richard II.

        February 10, Sunday, 2:00-3:00pm Second Meeting.  Note:  I have had a scheduling conflict arise and will not be in Georgetown on February 5 the time our second session should be scheduled.  I have therefore rescheduled the meeting for Sunday afternoon on February 10.  We will conclude Richard II with special attention to poetry and poetic style, brief remarks on the historical Richard and the divine right of kings.

        February 12, Third Meeting.  Begin discussion of King Lear with some remarks on the historical source of the play as well as 16th century views on aging.

        February 19, Fourth Meeting.  Conclude discussion of King Lear with remarks on the structure of the play with particular reference to Shakespeare's use of sub-plots.

         February 26, Fifth Meeting.  Begin The Tempest with remarks on where this play fits into Shakespeare's career as a playwright.  I will also make remarks on the fantasy nature of the play.

         March 4, Sixth Meeting.  Conclude The Tempest but also attempt to summarize the cohesiveness of the three plays we have read, and discuss what we might have learned about Shakespeare during the course of our meetings.