IN-CLASS ESSAY
PREPARATIONPLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY:
On Tuesday, November 14, you will be required to write an essay in class, based on your preparatory analysis of ONE passage which you have chosen from the list below.
The essay question will be announced in class on November 14, and will be a general question which applies to all of the passages listed below.
You MUST answer the essay question using the ONE passage you have prepared, and you must ONLY write on the passage you have prepared. PREPARE THE PASSAGE YOU INTEND TO WRITE ON IN CLASS.
Part of your assignment is to perform the tasks outlined in this hand-out in preparation for the in-class essay. You may submit the first part of your preparatory work, "Part 1: Gather the Following Evidence," to Jennifer Roberts-Smith by November 3 for comments and suggestions. The second part of the preparatory work, "Part 2: Perform the Following Analysis," must be your own independent work. You must hand in both parts of your preparatory work on November 14 in class. The in-class essay will be invigilated as if it were an examination.
Your grade will be calculated as follows:
Preparation Part 1: "Gather the Following Evidence" – 33.3%
Preparation Part 2: "Perform the Following Analysis" – 33.3%
In-Class Essay – 33.3%
Because of the cumulative nature of this assignment, and the fixed schedule for the in-class essay, extensions for preparatory work will not be granted.
PLEASE PERFORM THE FOLLOWING TASKS:
1. Choose ONE passage from the following list.
In each case, I have listed both the speech you should analyse, and also the beginning and end of the beat of dramatic action in which the speech appears.
a) speech: Romeo and Juliet, Act 3 scene 2, 97-127:
"JULIET: Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
...
Where is my father and my mother, Nurse?"
beat: beginning at line 96:
"NURSE: Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?"
ending at line 143:
"JULIET: And bid him come to take his last farewell."
OR
b) speech: Romeo and Juliet, Act 5 scene 3, 229-269:
"FRIAR: I will be brief, for my short date of breath
...
Unto the rigour of severest law."
beat: beginning at line 216:
"PRINCE: Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while,"
ending at line 270:
"PRINCE: We still have known thee for a holy man."
OR
c) speech: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 3 scene 2, 192-219:
"HELENA: Lo, she is one of this confederacy!
...
Though I alone do feel the injury."
beat: beginning at line 189:
"LYSANDER: Why seek’st thou me? Could not this make thee know"
ending at line 222:
"HERMIA: I scorn you not; it seems that you scorn me."
OR
d) speech: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 4 scene 1, 197-211:
"BOTTOM: When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer.
...
Peradventure, to make it the more gracious, I shall sing it at her death."
beat: beginning at line 196-7, sd:
"BOTTOM wakes"
ending at line 211, sd:
Exit
note also the previous beat, beginning at line184:
"DEMETRIUS: These things seem small and undistinguishable,"
ending at line 196, sd:
"Exeunt lovers."
OR
e) speech: Richard II, Act 3 scene 3, 143-175:
"KING RICHARD: What must the King do now? Must he submit?
...
You make a leg, and Bullingbrook says ay."
beat: beginning at line 142:
"AUMERLE: Northumberland comes back from Bullingbrook."
ending at line 183:
"KING RICHARD: For night-owls shriek where mounting larks should sing."
OR
f) speech: Richard II, Act V scene 4, 38-52:
"KING HENRY: They love not poison that do poison need,
...
In weeping after this untimely bier."
beat: beginning at line 29 sd:
"Enter EXTON with the coffin."
ending at line 52 sd:
"Exeunt."
2. Prepare ONLY the ONE passage you have chosen, following the instructions on the hand-out called "Preparation for In-Class Essay: Instructions for analysing a passage."
If you did not receive a copy in class, click here for it.
Be sure to complete BOTH parts of the instructions: "1. GATHER THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE" and "2. PERFORM THE FOLLOWING ANALYSIS". Record your answers, in note form, on separate sheets of paper. You may type or write your answers; but if you write by hand, your answers MUST be CLEAR and LEGIBLE. Be sure to identify your work by writing your NAME on EVERY PAGE. Number your pages 1 of __, 2 of __, etc.
3. If you wish, you may show part 1 of your preparation to Jennifer Roberts-Smith by November 3 for comments and suggestions. I STRONGLY recommended that you take advantage if this opportunity. The sooner you submit your work, the more opportuni ty you will have to revise it. However, no one will be penalised for not submitting preparatory work. I will be scheduling an office hour; time and location will be announced in class and on the course website.
4. Hand in your analysis when you come to class on Tuesday, November 14. Once again, be sure to identify your work by writing your NAME on EVERY PAGE. Number your pages 1 of __, 2 of __, etc.
5. For the in-class essay, you MUST ONLY write on the ONE passage you have prepared.