ENGL 497Senior Seminar
Prof. G. Steinberg
The final unit in this course focuses on practical applications of literary theory in the interpretation of texts. For each theorist we'll be reading in this unit, we will attempt to outline (in very practical terms) how that theorist would approach and interpret Hamlet.
Sign up for one of the days designated on the syllabus for presentations. On that day, the students who have signed up will present the theorists assigned for that day, suggesting how those theorists would approach and interpret Hamlet. The presenters may work together and do a single, unified presentation, or they may work separately after dividing up the material to be covered. Each student's presentation should last 15-20 minutes (although, if you want to take the entire class period, you may have it -- as long as what you're presenting is useful and relevant). You may be as creative as you like in your presentations, but remember that creativity is not your main goal -- helping your fellow students to understand and use the theory you're presenting is your main goal. In this respect, the more you can involve your fellow students in your presentation (through discussion, group work, in-class activities, etc.), the more likely you will be to accomplish your main goal. If you wish, you may arrange to talk to me or to do a trial run of your presentation privately in my office before you present to class. I will grade your presentation primarily in terms of its effectiveness in helping your fellow students to understand the theory you're presenting.
On the day of your presentation, you will also give me a paper (5-8 pages) in which you do a reading of Hamlet based on one or more of the theorists assigned for your day. Note that your paper is not simply a transcript of your presentation. Your presentation should be directed to your fellow students with the goal of helping them to see how the theorists assigned for your day would approach Hamlet; your paper, on the other hand, should be directed to me, showing me that you can do the kind of interpretation suggested by the theorist(s) you have chosen from among those assigned for your day. Your paper will probably require library research (e.g., into the political and economic situation at the time of Hamlet) and/or original ethnographic research (e.g., into how people from a particular socio-economic background understand a particular line or scene from the play).
NOTE: All students in class should do the assigned readings for each day of presentations and should come to class prepared to discuss the material in those readings. Don't make the presenters do all the work. Help each other out. Not only is helping each other out the polite thing to do, but it's also to your personal advantage. The more prepared you are for class, the more you will learn in class, and the better prepared you will be for the final exam.