Shakespeare (I): A Syllabus for Spring 2008 (Tentative)
Prof. Hsieh, Rm. 311, A-V Center, (O) 3366-3157

This course aims to offer the beginning student glimpses into the rich world of Shakespearean drama. Selected secondary sources will give the student general ideas about the cultural contexts in which the works arose and evolved. (To help unify the kaleidoscopic impressions about Shakespeare the student might encounter in this course, Stephan Greenblatt’s Will in the World will serve as a weekly reading assignment to provide an overview of the achievements of the playwright, and help the student work toward a grasp of the distinctive qualities of Shakespeare’s art.) To expose the student to the gripping total effects of Shakespearean drama, various audio-visual resources will be incorporated into the course, including selections from some of the most memorable Shakespearean film productions. To initiate the student into textual studies, the course chooses to give special attention to two of Shakespeare’s late plays, Coriolanus and The Tempest and, through relatively close reading, seeks to help the student meet the challenge of full-length Shakespearean plays.