In the second term, we will be holding tutorial sessions as part of the course. The class will be split into two groups, and although we are not yet sure about the exact timing of the tutorials, the first will likely be held in a second hour on Tuesday (11am to 12pm), and during the second hour on Thursday (11am to 12pm). All of those in Group A are expected to attend all the Group A tutorials, and all those in Group B are expected to attend all Group B tutorials.
The tutorials will include six basic steps. First, pick a passage or scene from a play that we will be studying second term. Second, analyze it according to the guidelines in the paragraph below. Third, write out that analysis in an essay-format paper. Fourth, submit it to me two weeks before the tutorial date when you will be presenting the paper, for comments, and suggestions. If the paper is not submitted on time, marks will be taken off for each day it is late, at a rate of 2% per day. This means that people presenting early in term should actually have the first draft to me on the first day of class in the second term. Fifth, alter the essay, incorporating the suggestions (or the ones you find valid, as well as any others you think necessary) once I have returned it. Finally, orally present the rewritten paper to the tutorial group, and submit the rewritten paper to me immediately after you present it. The final grade for tutorial assignments will be based on attendance, the submission of both drafts, and the presentation of the rewritten paper.
Guideline for analyzing passages. Basically you should be giving the passage the kind of close reading that we have been doing first term. That means that you should be looking the poetic and linguistic devices of the passages, such as rhyme, rhythm, imagery, rhetorical devices, etc. However, you should also ground this analysis in the passage's relevance to the play as a whole. For example, how does your passage reflect or develop other themes in the play, or add to the characterization of a given character, or fit into the structure of the scene or the play? Also keep in mind issues such as parallel scenes elsewhere in the play, and how this scene or passage might actually be staged. If anyone has questions about what they should be looking for in a given passage or scene, they are welcome to contact me.
Tentative & Rough Schedule (will change with TA strike in January):
January 11, 13, 18 Twelfth Night
January 20, 25, February 3, 8 Hamlet
February 10, 22, 24, 29 King Lear
March 2, 7, 9, 14 Measure
March 16, 21, 23 Antony
March 28, 30, April 4, 6 Tempest
For any other information, you can get in touch with me at
robert.ormsby@utoronto.ca.