History of the Theatre I

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Annotated reading cards, kept in a 3 ringed notebook, will be submitted for a selection of the following plays and essays. Students are responsible for submitting 1 analysis each week of class (14 total). The analysis can be of any play of your choice that was studied during the week. The total selection of cards should represent all periods studied. (30% of your grade).

CARDS ARE DUE ON THE EXAMINATION DAY FOR THAT SECTION

A. Aeschylus Agamemnon *** 458 BC
Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus *** 430 BC
Euripides Trojan Women *** BC
Aristotle The Poetics, excerpts 360-322 BC
Aristophanes Lysistrata 411 BC

B. Horace The Art of Poetry, excerpts 24-20 BC
Plautus The Menaechmi 215-186 BC
Seneca Thyestes unknown

C. Hrosvitha Dulcitius c. 965
Anonymous The Second Shepherd's Play *** 14th C
Anonymous Everyman c. 1500

D. Machiavelli La Mandragola c. 1513-20

E. Kyd The Spanish Tragedy 1585
Marlowe The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus 1589
Shakespeare The Taming of the Shrew *** 1593
Shakespeare Hamlet *** 1600
Jonson The Masque of Blackness 1605
Webster The Duchess of Malfi 1613

F. de Vega Fuenteovejuna *** (The Sheep Well) c. 1614
Calderon La Vida Es Sueno (Life Is a Dream) 1636

G. Corneille Le Cid 1636
Racine Phaedra *** 1677
Moliere L'Avare (The Miser) 1668

H. Chikamatsu The Courier for Hell 1711

Your annotations are to include, but are not limited to:

1. your name, play's title, author
2. genre, theme, period, numbers of ACTS/scenes, and setting
3. major characters with brief description and analysis, numbers of men and women
4. a short plot synopsis: 75-100 words; dramatic structural elements: point of attack, crises, climax, and denouement
5. your reaction and evaluation.

2. A research paper OR a project (20% of your grade) on a specific topic dealing with any of the periods studied. The basis for the project must be documented with an annotated bibliography. Acceptable research procedures will be followed for the paper and the project. Use of the Writing Center is strongly recommended.

Students will submit a one page thesis for the paper or project to be APPROVED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. The thesis statement outlining your paper/project and a selected bibliography are due MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2004. (50 pts)

Paper/ Project due Thursday, December 10th, at 9:00 a.m. (the day of the final exam) -- no extensions or exceptions. I will read and annotate quality drafts submitted before November 15th to give you time to re-write and improve your paper.

NOTE: Late assignments A one (1) week extension will be offered for written assignments if the student makes a WRITTEN REQUEST at least one (1) week prior to the due date. Late work will be penalized 10% per day, including weekends.