But start reading Richard II and start considering whether you want to read and write about a sonnet (or sonnets as described in yesterday's post) or Merchant of Venice.

I apologize for the late notice, but class is canceled for Friday. I've been having trouble with something called atrial flutter/fibrillation that makes my heart go wonky. Last week I had a procedure to address it, but the problem cropped up today and I have to go in to have it checked. Supposedly last week's procedure was something of a cure, but not so. It's not life threatening, but it's a pain. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Begin thinking about what you want to look into for your first writing assignment. Also, while looking at the writing assignment, start reading Richard II. This is the only history play we will read. In many ways, it parallels the situation Elizabeth had with her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. When it was performed, having been "sneaked" by the censors, Elizabeth has been reported to have said "But I am Richard!" meaning she clearly saw herself and her situation mirrored in the story of Richard. I'll post a formal journal, or an announcement that there won't be a journal, later today. See you on Monday.

What does Act V add to the Merchant of Venice? Is it something that is necessary to the integrity of the play or could it just be done away with? What do you think? Use your journal to describe why you would keep or cut Act V, why it is useless or why it matters. Once done doing that, respond to at least to two journals and also to at least one response to your journal.

Because we are coming to the middle of the term, it's time to start thinking about the first major writing assignment. In general, you are going to annotate and summarize a piece of research/scholarship (minimum of 10 pages in length) regarding either the sonnets, in whole or part (meaning a single sonnet, one of the groupings, or all of them, or maybe something else, but talk to me about it) or The Merchant of Venice. Following the annotation and summary, you are going to write about 500 words describing how the summarized material has informed, enlightened or confused your understanding of the essay's topic. We'll go over this in class.

Act Four is all about the trial in which Shylock argues for his "bond" to be honored. We are not lawyers, but we are going to pretend. The question I'd like you to consider if whether Portia's prosecution (that's a neutral term, meaning she just puts the case forward) of the case is amounts to mercy or entrapment. Provide what evidence you can from the trial transcript (meaning, the words Shakespeare puts in the mouth of each character) to support your view. Once you've posted your journal, be sure to respond to at least two other journals and to at least one of the responses to your journal. Come to class ready to act out the trial, in whole or part.

In Acts I and II, there are several instances of the "other" intruding in what we might call polite society. First, there is Shylock, the Jew in a clearly Christian society. In some ways, there is Antonio as the seemingly lover of Bassiano. Additionally, there is the Moor who comes to woo Portia, along with all those she has dismissed in Act I. Make note of the Moors first words to Portia and how they set him apart, and how she views him as "other." What should we make of what seems to be disdain for the "other," those not of polite Venetian society? In staging the play, should we let these notions go as written, showing deference to Shakespeare? Should we rework them, making them less offensive to modern sensibilities? In your journal, express your thoughts on this, providing a rationale for why you would do what you do, and maybe some description for how you would do it. As usual, respond to at least two journals and to at least one response to your journal.

You are the director of a production of The Merchant of Venice. Your first decision is how to stage the play. The answer to "What is X?" is the manner in which you will stage the play (based on some points raised in class today). "What does X do?" pertains not just to how the play will be presented, how issues will be portrayed, but also in how audiences may respond to the production. Finally, "What will X mean?" based upon these choices, again, to actors as well as the audiences. As usual, resopnd to at least two journals and to at least one of the responses to your journal.

First, if you missed today, we'll be repeating our final exercise on Monday. There is no class Friday as I have a doctor's appointment that can't be missed.

If you have not done so, for Monday, have read the First Act of Merchant of Venice (MVO hereafter). I also suggest you read as much of the General Introduction, starting on page 1, that you can. Most useful will be pages 1-67 and 79-99. The more of this material you read, the more sense and understanding you'll get from the plays, depending, of course, upon how much of the reading you retain.

Until then, in your blog write about what was striking about what each group did with their performance today (Thursday). What did the actors do to create a particular meaning? What did they do that added to the text? Be as specific as you can with your illustrating examples, such as writing "they giggled" rather than "showed emotion." Develop four to six categories to cover the additions you saw, the bits that went beyond the text. For instance, you might use verbal and nonverbal for two of your categories. As usual, respond to two journals and to at least one response to your journal.

With the answers to the three questions you came up with in class today, think about the sorts of responses you came up with, such as those for a concrete notions: visual description, names, aspects of object, and other fairly objective answers; abstractions, which are more subjective and what they may mean to the speaker/writer; and actions, a mixture of the object and what is done with object. Think also about the types of speech that these represent: concrete notions as nouns, abstractions as adverbs and adjectives indicating an interpretation of of X, and actions as verbs. As best as you can, which means imperfectly, describe what you see the asking and answering of the three questions doing, primarily in regard to the way you see and think. Work with the assumption that questions are never neutral. Having posted this journal, respond to at least two others, as well as responding to a response to you. Also, be ready to discuss this is in class Thursday.

Class meets today, Wednesday. See you there.

No class today. Be reading Merchant of Venice, but no blogs yet. I'll be seeing you on Wednesday

I'm still pretty sick so check this space in the morning to see if there's going to be class. My plans are falling apart, but not so much that you want me to come in and spread my germs. I'll post a note by 8 at the latest.

In the meantime, if you haven't done so already, please post your sonnet so the rest of the class can read and admire them.