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[Fall 2005]
ENGL G6135x Tudor Drama: Dramatizing
the Body Politic
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Professors
Jean Howard and Paul Strohm
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SCOPE AND EMPHASIS
This seminar will consider the rich dramatic tradition
of the eight or nine decades predating the opening of
the commercial theaters in London in the 1570s. Its particular
focus will be on the ways in which this theater represents
the social polity or 'body politic,' and on the generic
forms and representational strategies it employed. This
course will consistently refuse subdivision of its materials
into periodic categories of 'medieval' and 'renaissance.'
Although viewing its texts historically, it will view
their temporalities as inherently mixed, consisting of
residual and emergent, as well as period-specific, materials.
It will begin with a deliberate chronological interruption,
starting 'in the middle' with Skelton's early Tudor Magnificence.
It will then work backward (to medieval mysteries and
moralities) and forward (concluding with two Shakespeare
histories and the anonymous Elizabethan Jack Straw).
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FORMAT
Each member of the seminar will be asked to prepare
five short (ca. 500-word) 'incentives to discussion' on
weekly readings, commencing with our second meeting and
according to a prearranged schedule. These 'incentives
to discussion' should pose a single problem or issue connected
with the text of the day, or should highlight a passage
or single aspect of the text for discussion together with
some indication of its possible importance. They are to
be posted on the class website the day before our meeting,
and each of the paper-writers may be asked to lead a short
segment of the ensuing discussion. Just past the midpoint
of the semester, each member of the class will be asked
to give a short 'strategic' report on her or his proposed
seminar paper. These reports should be limited to 10 minutes,
in order to preserve discussion time. They should not
be miniature seminar papers, but should emphasize such
matters as materials to be covered, approach to be taken,
possible pitfalls, and potential objectives. Finally,
each member of the seminar will be asked to submit a final
paper, ca. 20 pages in length, cast in article form (to
be described), at the end of the semester.
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MATERIALS
Each member of the class will be asked to purchase
Medieval Drama: An Anthology, ed. Greg Walker (Blackwells,
2000), isbn 0-631-21727-4, on order at Labyrinth Books.
In addition, Professors Howard and Strohm will prepare
a coursepack, with texts not present in the Walker anthology.
Key studies (including Bevington, Mankind to Marlowe
and Walker, Plays of Persuasion and Politics
of Performance) will be placed on reserve. We expect
to invite at least three visiting speakers (normally,
on Thursday evenings at 6:00) whose presentations will
supplement our own discussions.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
E-mail a one-paragraph application to both Professors
Howard and Strohm no later than Friday, September 2.
NOTE TO REGISTRANTS
Our first meeting will be on the first Tuesday of classes;
please come to that class having read Skelton's Magnyfycence
(available in Medieval Drama: An Anthology)
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SCHEDULE
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| Sept 6: |
Skelton's Magnyfycence |
| Sept 13: |
Moralities: Croxton Play of the Sacrament
and Mankind |
| Sept 20: |
Mysteries: York 'Conspiracy' through 'Christ
before Pilate II'; Bale, 'John the Baptist' |
| Sept 27: |
Bale, King Johan |
| Oct 4: |
Medwall, Fulgens & Lucrece; Res
Publica |
| Oct 11: |
Heywood, Play of the Weather and
Four PP |
| Oct 18: |
Preston, Cambyses |
| Oct 25: |
Mirror for Magistrates (excerpts);
Sackville and Norton, Gorboduc |
| Nov 1: |
Presentations |
| Nov 8: |
University Holiday |
| Nov 15: |
Presentations |
| Nov 22 |
Presentations |
| Nov 29: |
Shakespeare, Richard III |
| Dec 6: |
Shakespeare, 2 Henry VI, Jack
Straw |
| Dec 12: |
(Monday) Final papers due |
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