drama syllabus

ENG 465B: Restoration & Eighteenth-Century Drama

Autumn 2005

Tuesday/Thursday 1:00-2:15 pm, FDH 215

Dr. Anne Stevens, Department of English

office phone: 895-3500

Office Hours: 2:00-4:30 pm Wednesday or by appointment

605 Flora Dungan Humanities Building

The restoration of the English monarchy in 1660 marks a momentous turning point in the history of the British theater. For nearly twenty years of Puritan rule, the theaters had been closed. When King Charles II was restored to the throne, the theaters were reopened and women were allowed to perform on the stage for the first time in England. New plays were needed in large numbers to fulfil the new cultural, political, and theatrical situation, while older plays were updated to suit the times. In this course, we will be reading an assortment of plays from the Restoration to the end of the eighteenth century. We begin with a number of (often bawdy) comedies, the period’s best-known theatrical genre. Then we turn to tragedy and neoclassical adaptations of Shakespeare. We end with a look at eighteenth-century plays from a variety of genres, some nearly unclassifiable.

Required Text: (available at bookstore)

The Broadview Anthology of Restoration and Early Eighteenth-Century Drama

Documents on electronic reserve available at http://ereserves.library.unlv.edu

Course requirements: Two papers, midterm, final exam, and in-class participation. Grading will be weighted as follows: paper one 20%, paper two 30%, midterm 20%, final 20%, and participation (including attendance) 10%.

Attendance policy: Class attendance is mandatory, and more than three unexcused absences will result in a reduced grade for the course. I will excuse absences for valid reasons (illness, work, family obligations) if you let me know via phone or email before the class begins. I will not excuse any absence after the fact for any reason, no matter how well documented. I am sorry if this seems a bit arbitrary or harsh. In my years of teaching I have heard so many creative excuses and seen such a range of suspicious-looking documentation that I have had to adopt this policy.

Late assignments: My lateness policy is similar to the attendance policy. Late assignments will automatically drop one letter grade, no matter what sort of excuse you have. However, I am happy to grant extensions to students who need a little extra time to complete an assignment. You must ask for an extension at least twenty-four hours before the assignment is due. If you request an extension you must set yourself a new, reasonable deadline and meet it.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism includes any unacknowledged borrowing from a written source, website, or fellow student. Acknowledged borrowing is acceptable as long as you cite your sources in footnotes or a bibliography and place quotation marks around any materials you are quoting. The minimum penalty for plagiarism will be failure of the course.

Writing Center: Individual or small group assistance with writing is available free of charge to students at the Writing Center, located in CDC-301. Although drop-in times are sometimes available, students with appointments will receive priority assistance. Appointments can be made in person or by calling 895-3908. When you go to your appointment, please bring a copy of the assignment, two copies of any writing you may have completed for the assignment, and your Rebel ID card. One copy will be for you to use, and the second copy will be for the consultant to use. At the end of your session, the consultant will keep the second copy, and it will be shredded.

Disabilities: The UNLV Disability Resource Center (DRC) houses resources for students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may require assistance, you will need to contact the DRC for the coordination of services. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC), room 137. Their numbers are 895-0866 (voice), 895-0652 (TDD), and 895-0651 (fax). For additional information please visit http://www.unlv.edu/studentlife/drc

Schedule:

August 30: Introduction to course

September 1: read introduction to Broadview Anthology plus “An Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber” (ereserve)

September 6: William Wycherley, The Country Wife, acts 1-3 (Broadview)

September 8: William Wycherley, The Country Wife, acts 4-5

September 13: Aphra Behn, The Rover, acts 1-3 (Broadview)

September 15: Aphra Behn, The Rover, acts 4-5

September 20: Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso, acts 1-3 (ereserve, in two parts plus introduction)

September 22: Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso, acts 4-5

September 27: William Congreve, The Way of the World, acts 1-2 (Broadview) plus Jeremy Collier, “A Short View of the English Stage” (ereserve)

September 29: William Congreve, The Way of the World, acts 3-5

October 4: John Dryden, All for Love, acts 1-2 (Broadview) plus “An Essay of Dramatick Poetry” (ereserve)

October 6: John Dryden, All for Love, acts 3-5, paper one due

October 11: Nahum Tate, The History of King Lear, acts 1-3 (ereserve, introduction and text separate files)

October 13: Nahum Tate, The History of King Lear, acts 4-5

October 18: Thomas Southerne, Oroonoko, acts 1-3 (Broadview)

October 20: Thomas Southerne, Oroonoko, acts 4-5, midterm quiz

October 25: Susanna Centlivre, A Bold Stroke for a Wife, acts 1-3 (Broadview)

October 27: Susanna Centlivre, A Bold Stroke for a Wife, acts 4-5

November 1: Richard Steele, The Conscious Lovers, acts 1-3 (Broadview)

November 3: Richard Steele, The Conscious Lovers, acts 4-5

November 8: John Gay, The Beggars Opera, acts 1-2 (Broadview)

November 10: John Gay, The Beggars Opera, act 3

November 15: George Lillo, The London Merchant, acts 1-3 (Broadview)

November 17: George Lillo, The London Merchant, acts 4-5

November 22: Henry Fielding, The Historical Register for the Year 1736 (ereserve)

November 29: Richard Sheridan, The School for Scandal, acts 1-3 (Broadview)

December 1: Richard Sheridan, The School for Scandal, acts 4-5

December 6: conclusion to course, paper two due

December 13, 1:00 pm: final exam