Course Objectives:

Students are expected to

1.    Recognize Greek drama as the origin of Western theatre.
2.    Recognize medieval drama as a different dramatic form from classical.
3.    Study Elizabethan drama by reading 2 Shakespearian plays.
4.    Understand the social political and cultural background of Greek, Medieval, and Elizabethan periods.
5.    Acquire critical and analytical insight into the plays under study.
6.    Express themselves orally and in written form.

Course Description:

Students study four plays over a two-semester period of 12 weeks each; every class lasts three hours. The works studied are Aristotle’s Poetics, one classical play, e.g.Oedipus, the King by Sophocles, and a medieval play, e.g. Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe.  Elizabethan Drama is introduced in the second semester by focusing on two plays by Shakespeare, e.g. and Macbeth and Merchant of Venice.

First Term:

Week	Topic	Objectives	Activities	Resources
One	Greek Drama	Introduction to ancient Greek culture, theatre and drama.    Students should be acquainted with the classical Greek culture, beginnings of theatre and Aristotle as the pioneer in setting the rules of dramatic writing.	Readings on ancient Greece. Viewing  a map and some pictures of the ancient theatres in Greece Discuss in detail the first eleven points in Aristotle’s Poetics .	Encarta; ancient Greek culture The Poetics.
Two	Poetics	More study of Aristotle and the rules of dramatic writing	Discussion of  the next five points in the Poetics	The Poetics.
Three	Oedipus, the King.	Viewing Aristotle’s rules within the play. eg.  (plot and theme)	Close reading and discussion in class.	Oedipus, the King. Websites . eg. www.temple.edu/classics/ dramadir.html www.imagi-nation.com/ moonstruck/spectop007.html
Four	Oedipus, the King. (cont.)	Viewing Aristotle’s rules within the play, eg. (plot and  characterization)	More discussion of the plot and characterization. Oral presentat  ions of what some students read about the writer and his works.	Oedipus, the King.
Five	Oedipus, the King. (cont.)	Viewing Aristotle’s rules within the play. eg. (Diction, Spectacle and Music)	More discussion of the dramatic elements in the play (Diction, spectacle and Music). Students groups prepare a class activity for the following week.	Oedipus, the King.
Six	Oedipus, the King	Getting an overview of the play.      Wrapping up the play.	Group role-play.	Oedipus, the King
Seven			Mid-term exam
Eight	Western Medieval  theatre	Students should be introduced to medieval culture, thought and early dramatic practices	Lecturing on the early period of  medieval drama.	Reading articles on Medieval life and theatre. Showing pictures of the period and its in-door as well as out-door places of performance
Nine	Medieval theatre, Christopher Marlowe and his works.	Students are introduced to Marlowe and his works as well as some information on Dr. Faustus.	Students give presentations on their reading on the topic. Start reading play in class.    Dr. Faustus	Dr. Faustus
Ten	Medieval Drama	Students are to start analyzing dramatic elements of text..	Close reading of Dr. Faustus and analyzing plot and characterization.	Dr. Faustus
Eleven	Medieval Drama	Analyzing dramatic elements of text	Wrapping up Dr. Faustus by dealing with theme in relation to plot as well as the figurative language of the text.	Dr. Faustus
Twelve	General revision		Discuss any issues that arise as students prepare for the final.