ENGLISH 265 Shakespeare: Comedies and Tragicomedies - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

A study of selected comedies and tragicomedies of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Works of Shakespeare may include the romantic comedies of his first decade and a half as a playwright, the so-called 'problem plays', the darker comedies of his middle years, and the tragicomedies of his final years, sometimes called 'romances'. The nature of comedy and its relationship to tragedy is also explored.

Course Overview

Beatrice and Benedick insulting each other; Malvolio in his yellow stockings; Prospero and his wild spirits; the statue that comes to life -- these are some of the famous moments of passion and laughter that have made Shakespeare's comedies famous. How were these plays put together? What concerns do they share, and how are those concerns varied from play to play? What has made them so famous?

In this course we will read and study selected comedies and tragicomedies of Shakespeare and some of his contemporaries, including work from across his entire career, early, middle, and late. The nature of comedy and its relationship to tragedy is explored. A theatrical emphasis in the course is intended to help students respond to the plays as works for performance as well as literary texts. Skills fostered include critical close reading, responsiveness to poetic and theatrical power, knowledge of dramatic modes and genres and of theatre history in English. Tutorial programme will include development of critical reading skills and consideration of traditions of competing critical argument.

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 310

Learning Outcomes

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

Have an ability to read and understand early modern English verse and prose; (Capability 1.1)
Have an understanding of traditions of stage performance in early modern England (Capability 1.2, 3.1 and 4.2)
Be able to recognize and discuss some important features and changes in English society and culture across this period, as reflected in drama. (Capability 1.2 and 2.1)
Have a familiarity with typical features and structures of Shakespeare's comedies (Capability 1.3 and 2.3)
Have an ability to discuss and compare dramatic literature from this period using critical and scholarly resources. (Capability 1.3, 2.3 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Coursework	50%	Individual Examination
Final Exam (2 hours)	50%	Individual Coursework
2 types	100%

Except in exceptional circumstances, with specific permission, all coursework must be completed to pass this course.

With specific permission, a performance project may be substituted for the Shorter Essay assessment.

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" (whole group classes) and a 1 hour tutorial. You will also be expected to spend up to 7 hours per week reading and thinking about the content and working on assignments

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

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.

Set Texts (by Shakespeare)

The Comedy of Errors, ed. Wells (Oxford, 1995),

Much Ado About Nothing, ed. Zitner (Oxford, 1993)

Twelfth Night, ed. Warren and Wells (Oxford, 2008),

Measure for Measure, ed. N. W. Bawcutt (Oxford, 2008)

The Winter’s Tale, ed. Orgel (Oxford, 2008),

Set Text ( by Thomas Middleton)

A Chaste Maid in Cheapside (New Mermaids, 2002)

It is not essential that you acquire these specific editions but you must bring a printed copy of each play to tutorials. Make sure that your edition offers a good set of annotations and an introduction.

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.

Not applicable.

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 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement

ENGLISH 265 : Shakespeare: Comedies and Tragicomedies

Arts

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)