ENGLISH 213 Age of Shakespeare: Tragedy - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

An introduction to the golden age of English theatre, involving detailed study of a selection of tragedies by Shakespeare and his contemporaries. The theatrical emphasis of the course is intended to help students respond to the plays as theatrical artefacts and not merely as literary texts.

Course Overview

Hamlet with the skull; Cleopatra with the asp; King Lear with his Fool; Doctor Faustus with the Devil. These are some of the most famous and enduring dramatic images in the repertory of English and world drama, at the heart of plays that have fascinated, compelled and terrified audiences for centuries.

In this course we will read a selection of the most exciting of these plays written between 1590 and 1625, both by Shakespeare and by some of his contemporaries, in a period where tragedy was a powerful and intensely-watched form of drama (we will want to ask why this was). The course will consider both how these plays are complex pieces of writing and also how their theatricality is managed as experience on the stage.

Of particular interest will be the relations among different kinds of tragedy we can trace, including revenge tragedy, religious tragedy, domestic tragedy and political tragedy. Black comedy, camp and other ironic and satiric aspects of tragedy will also be examined, and parallels drawn with modern theatrical and film culture, where appropriate. Students will be encouraged to bring their own experience of plays and film versions to the discussion and to engage with contemporary issues through the experience of reading these plays.

Students will also give consideration to some of the way literary critical discussion has addressed these plays and the issues they raise.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I in English or Drama, or approval of Academic Head or nominee Restriction: ENGLISH 353

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Develop basic familiarity with key dramatic works of tragedy and aspects of the theory of tragedy as practised by Shakespeare and his contemporaries (Capability 1.1 and 1.2)
Aquire ability to read and understand early modern English verse and prose (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 5.2)
Be aware of basic traditions of stage performance in early modern England (Capability 1.1 and 1.3)
Be able to recognise some features and changes in English society and culture across this period (Capability 1.3 and 2.1)
Develop an ability to investigate literature from this period using critical and scholarly resources. (Capability 2.2 and 4.1)
Learn and apply the principles of scholarly citation (Capability 2.2 and 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Coursework	60%	Individual Coursework
Final Exam	40%	Individual Examination
2 types	100%

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 7 hours of reading and thinking about the content including as appropriate, work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

This course is available for delivery to students studying remotely outside NZ in 2022.

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course may include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required] for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities including tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
The course will include live online events including tutorials and these will not be recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for the exam.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity

ENGLISH 213 : Age of Shakespeare: Tragedy

Arts

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)