Ill Met By Moonlight, Proud Titania: November 19, 2019

Focus: How do Shakespeare's motifs contribute to the play's characterization and conflicts?

1. Warming up with a dramatization of Queen Elizabeth's rebranding of herself as "The Virgin Queen"

• What is the power in being a "Virgin Queen"?

• Can you find any representation of Queen Elizabeth's virgin power in the play so far?

2. Finishing Pyramus and Thisbe, and reading 1.2 with human subtitles

• What do you notice about these characters as a group?

• What do you notice about Bottom in particular?

• Why did Shakespeare put these guys in charge of Pyramus and Thisbe?

3. Reading 2.1 together with a focus on yesterday's motifs and dichotomies

• Find one or two passages from this scene that connect to your motif. Write out the passage(s).

• Put it into your own words, using the footnotes if you need to.

• Read it closely, looking for interesting diction, imagery, and figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and personification.

• So far, what is this play suggesting about __________ (your motif)?

HW:
1. By Friday, November 22: Complete the brainstorming phase of your paper/project.

• If you're doing the project, complete the attached plan in your packet.
• If you're doing the paper, complete your thesis and a rough outline. 
• E-mail me, submit hard copies, or stop in for a quick chat.

2. (Optional) By Wednesday, December 4: Turn in your typed, printed one-pager on the Shakespearean film you have watched (see overview).

Heads-up! December 9-10: Poetry papers and project are due. Because we will be at the end of the semester, please note the following:

1. No extensions will be granted. 
2. You will NOT be able to revise these because you won't get them back until your final.

Please plan ahead and spread this out over the next few weeks. You will have one work day in class, but this is largely designed to be an independent, college-style assignment.