Human Identity in Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night OR What you Will

Fall 2006

Julia Taylor

Focus:

In this quick five week (22 day) elective, we will study Shakespeare’s romantic comedy, Twelfth Night.  We will look at various themes—gender identity, power, love, deception, and happiness. Shakespeare lends itself to many of life’s predicaments, so we may go where our reading of the play takes us.  And of course, the study of Shakespeare is always a study of language--its power and complexities. 

 Unlike the tragedies I have taught in past electives, this is a light-hearted, silly play, with mistaken identities, physical comedy, romance, and sass.  Some of you may remember seeing a performance of this one at Keene State a couple years ago (remember the techno music, checkered floor and all the crotch grabbing?).

Activities and Expectations:

We share little time together, so in order to make this a meaningful and challenging course, we all need to be prepared, engaged, and awake for every class.  Be ready to read closely, outloud, with or without costumes (and swords!).  Along with the more formally assessed assignments below, we will have some fun and merriment, which may include some of the following:

• Pre-class field trip to see Romeo and Juliet (done!)
• Possible viewing of movie based on 12th Night: She’s the Man (or as an extra movie night) as well as excerpts from Shakespeare in Love and other relevant films
• Insult writing and “throwing”
• Possible “cross-gartering” of a willing male, if we can figure out how to do this
• Madlibs or balderdash as a way to celebrate the wonders of the English language

Along with class participation, you will be assessed on the following assignments:   (w/possible changes, depending on time and other factors)

• “Contemplation Questions” (CQ’s)=Brief, but thoughtful reading responses (some a paragraph, others a page) to the play or about films based on Shakespeare’s plays; possible other related readings
• Mini Research on Shakespearian related topics (w/partner)
• Word Collections
• A visual of a character in the play
• A flattery poem
• A comic strip of one scene
• A contemporary soundtrack for Act 2
• 3-5 page critical essay on the play, (or possibly a comparison of play and film), in which you develop an argument and use the text to explore and support it.  You may use second sources as well
• Culminating Project to be decided upon as a class (12th Night celebration at school? A performance? Independent projects?)

Supplies:

You will be provided with a copy of Twelfth Night as well as copied readings. Feel free to mark text w/ pencil or post its; in fact, I encourage it.  You will need to bring or binder to every class, paper for note-taking and an assignment book/calendar for writing assignments in.  A computer for writing is fine, as long as it is just a writing or research tool. And of course, bring energy and willingness to every class.

Other Expectations:

• I expect that you will have your HW printed out (preferable) or sent to me BEFORE class begins.

• You may use cliff notes to SUPPLEMENT your reading in class, BUT I also encourage you to depend on our class activities (including each other) to figure out the play’s language; if you read the cliff notes, your own interpretations and ideas may be submerged before they have a chance to eek out.  Be patient with yourself—the language will be difficult at first, but you will get the hang of it!  Also, I will use scene summaries, at times, or depend on small groups to give summaries as we read so that you know what is going on.  After all, the audiences in Shakespeare’s time knew the story before watching the play.