Week 6 Syllabus: May 11

WHAT MAKES FOR A GOOD LOVE STORY? We turn from one of the oldest love stories with a happy ending, to one of the most famous love stories with a tragic ending. Unlike Odysseus and Penelope, Romeo and Juliet never have a happy reunion, get to experience wedded bliss. Like them, they are bonded by a love so deep that neither war nor impossible odds can keep them apart. But their love has a much, much shorter arc than the ancient Greek king and his wise and crafty queen. Nonetheless, like Odysseus and Penelope, their pure love becomes a legend that transcends place and time. Keep the themes of forbidden love, fate, and death in mind while reading selections from Shakespeare’s first tragedy.

MONDAY: GREY DAY/OFFICE HOURS

  • Today is a grey day, and you can meet with me during Zoom office hours 12:50 and 1:50 pm. Check Canvas for the link to Zoom.

TUESDAY: BLUE DAY

  • Starting with a Zoom meeting. First period will meet at 9 am, and second period at 10:10. Links are posted on the Canvas syllabus.

  • We will watch all of the part one crash-course.

  • We will read, carefully, the prologue to the play.

  • HW: Read the introductory materials to the play in Canvas files, “R&J_Intro.”

WEDNESDAY: GREEN DAY

  • No class today.

THURSDAY: BLUE DAY

  • Starting with a Zoom meeting. Check the syllabus on Canvas for a link.

  • We will watch a thirty minute documentary introducing approaches to reading Shakespeare’s R&J.

  • HW: Read Act 1 of the graphic, serialized version of the play off Canvas.

FRIDAY: GREEN DAY

  • No class.