THEA 330 THEATRE HISTORY I
FALL 2011
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR: GENE MUTO
PHONE: 395-2761
E-mail: mutoet@longwood.edu
OFFICE: 004 JARMAN
HOURS: M & W: 11 – 12
T & R 10 – 11 O.B.A.
Course Description: Theatre History I is a study for young scholars and citizen leaders of the
dramatic literature and the history of theatrical stage practices during the time of the Ancient
Greeks to Shakespeare.
Texts: Brown, John Russell, ed., The Oxford Illustrated History of the Theatre
Corrigan, Robert W., Classical Tragedy--Greek & Roman
________________, Classical Comedy--Greek & Roman
Gassner, John, Medieval and Tudor Drama
___________ & William Green, Elizabethan Drama
(ON RESERVE AT LONGWOOD LIBRARY, DEPARTMENT LIBRARY, OR OPTIONAL
PURCHASE)
 Klaus, et al., Stages of Drama
 Oates & O'Neill, The Complete Greek Drama
 Duckworth, The Complete Roman Drama
 Parks & Beatty, The English Drama
 Shakespeare, Collected Works
Professional Teacher Outcomes:
VI
TC1
TC2
TC3
TC4
TC5
TC6
TC7
TC8
TC9
Educators as Reflective Citizen Leaders
Plan for Instruction
Implementation and Management of Instruction
Evaluation and Assessment
Knowledge of Subject
Classroom Behavior Management
Communication Skills
Professional Responsibilities
Technology
Diversity
Course Objectives: As a result of this course, students will be able to demonstrate
A. Knowledge:
1.
2.
3.
Analyze a wide body of dramatic literature and to the staging practices of the period (TC 4, TC7,
TC9)
Determine the literary and dramatic strategies and resources used by the playwrights of this period
(TC4, TC7 TC9)
Understand the cultural, social, and associative characteristics of the period as seen through a
broad and diverse spectrum of playwrights (TC4, TC7, TC9)
B. Skills:
4.
Relate some of the ideas explored in these plays to contemporary life and theatre (TC4, TC 6,
TC7, TC9)
5.
Develop research and writing skills, techniques, and strategies (TC6, TC7, TC8)
C. Dispositions:
6.
Think critically and express themselves effectively through discussion research, and written
assignments (TC4, TC6, TC7, TC8)
7.
Appreciate and reflect attitudes toward the application of research and professional competencies
in the areas of theatre history and dramatic literature from the period (TC4, TC6, TC7, TC9)
Course Requirements:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students are expected to keep abreast of the readings and be prepared for discussions and tests.
Students are required to attend the two Longwood Theatre main stage performances and write a
two-page review of each, analyzing dramatic form, structure, and style.
Students are required to write four 5 - 7 pp. reports on predetermined topics.
All written work is to be researched, word processed, and written in impeccable form, and handed
in on time. The play scripts are not valid research resources.
Grading: (Late work is not acceptable, so don't even ask.)
10 unannounced quizzes (which are not able to be made up if missed)
5 researched, well written, and neatly typed reports (see below)
Reviews of this semester's Longwood Theatre productions
Midterm
Final
total
A=180+ B=160+ C=140+ D=120+
50
100
10
20
20
200
Reports:
1.
Comparison of Greek Tragedy
2.
Comparison of Greek & Roman Tragedy
3.
Comparison of Prometheus Bound & Everyman
4.
Influence of the Medieval period on Elizabethan staging
5.
Influence of Seneca on Kyd & Shakespeare
(Each report should be 5 to 7 pp. and contain valid references beyond the play scripts)
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS
WEEKS 1 & 2
WEEKS 3 & 4
WEEKS 5 & 6
Theories of the Origins of Theatre & Tragedy (Brown, 13 – 49)
Aeschylus: Prometheus Bound, The Orestian Trilogy: Agamemnon, The Libation
Bearers, The Suppliants
Development of Greek Drama
Sophocles: Oedipus the King, Antigone
Library resources tour with Ms. Liz Kocervar-Weidinger
Later Greek Tragedy & Attic Comedy REPORT #1. DUE
Euripides: The Bacchae, Medea, Hippolytus
WEEK 7
WEEK 8
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WEEK 11
WEEKS 12-15
Aristophanes: Lysistrata
Roman, Tragedy, Comedy, Spectacle & Popular Performance (Brown, 49 – 93)
Seneca: Oedipus, Thyestes (on reserve)
Roman Period Continued
REPORT #2. DUE
Plautus: The Twin Menaechmi
Terence: The Self-Tormentor
MIDTERM EXAM
English Medieval Drama
REPORT #3. DUE
The Quem Quaeritus Trope, The Annunciation, The Second Shepherd's Play,
Everyman
English Theatre from the Middle Ages (Brown 173 – 204)
Early Italian Theatre & the Commedia dell' arte (Brown 107 – 142)
REPORT #4 DUE
Elizabethan Drama & Theatre (Brockett, 153 - 184)
Kyd: The Spanish Tragedy
Elizabethan & Jacobean Drama
Marlowe: Edward II
Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Romeo & Juliet
FINAL EXAM
ATTENDANCE POLICY: The attendance policy for this class conforms with the Departmental one:
assignments are due on time and cannot be turned in late.
HONOR CODE: Students are expected to live up to the letter and the spirit of the Honor Code as it is
outlined in the current Longwood Catalog.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: (Available either in the Longwood Library or in the Department Library)
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Beiber, Margarite The History of the Greek and Roman Theatre
Berthold, Margot A History of World Theatre
Deardon, C.W. The Stage of Aristophanes
Duchartre, Pierre Louis The Italian Comedy
Duckworth, George E. The Complete Roman Drama
Dukore, Bernard F. Dramatic Theory and Criticism
Eccles, Christine The Rose Theatre
Garton, Charles Personal Aspects of the Roman Theatre
Gebhard, Elizabeth R. The Theatre at Isthmia
Harsh, Philip Whaley A Handbook of Classical Drama
Hartnoll, Phyllis The Oxford Companion to the Theatre
Kirby, E.T. Ur Drama: The Origins of Theatre
Kitto, H.D.E. Greek Tragedy
Oates, Whitney J. & Eugene ONeill, Jr. The Complete Greek Drama
Pickard-Cambridge, A.W. The Theatre of Dionysus in Athens
Roebuck, Carl The World of Ancient Times
Smith, William Smaller Classical Dictionary
Travis, Peter W. Dramatic Design in the Chester Cycle
Wickham, Glynne The Medieval Theatre
Keep track of your grade:
Quizzes
Papers
Reviews
Midterm
Final
Absences
(50)
(100)
(10)
(20)
(20)
1
2
1:
1:
2:
2:
3:
4:
3
4
5
6
(5/ea)
(20/ea)
(5/ea)
7