Shakespeare I - DSU-240

Course Description: This introductory, six-week online course explores three of William Shakespeare’s best known plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. The course allows students to develop an approach to reading and understanding the plays. Students are encouraged to read the text aloud and view productions (whether live or on film) to capture the performance quality of the plays that cannot be achieved from silent reading.

Prerequisite: None

Course Credit: 3 Credit Hours

Major Course Topics & Course Outcomes

As a result of the group and individual activities included in this course, the student will acquire the following knowledge and skills that can be applied to the workplace:

Introduction to Shakespeare

• Locate Shakespeare’s plays in a historical context.
• Develop an approach to reading Shakespeare
• Illustrate an understanding of Shakespearean plays

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (MSND)

• Read and discuss William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Demonstrate an understanding of MSND
• Discuss elements of plot and character within MSND

Romeo and Juliet (RJ)

• Read and discuss William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
• Demonstrate an understanding of RJ
• Explain elements of plot and character presented in RJ

Hamlet

• Read and discuss William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
• Demonstrate an understanding of Hamlet
• Discuss various characters and their points of view

Synthesize Topics

• Illustrate, through discussion and written work, the ability to synthesize literary topics into a coherent and personal point of view.
• Recognize the literary importance and social significance for historical literary works

 

Course Texts:

There are two textbooks required for this course. You can obtain them through your favorite bookstore.

Bevington, David “How to Read a Shakespeare Play” Blackwell Publishing 2006 (ISBN 978-1-4051-1396-0)

Shakespeare, William “The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works, 2nd Edition” Oxford University Press, 2005 (ISBN 978-0199267170)*

* Optional. Electronic text of the plays (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet) may be substituted and are widely available online.

NOTE: This course recommends viewing theatrical or film versions of the play to aide in comprehension. The course developer recommends the following. Viewing one of each of the plays can be used to supplement your reading, but should not be used to replace reading from the original text.

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999)
• A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1968)
• Romeo and Juliet (1968)
• William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)
• William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1996)
• Hamlet (1991)

Additional reading materials will be provided in the classroom.

 

Please note that textbooks are subject to change. Please contact your advisor before purchasing the textbook for your class to confirm.