Week 4

Weekly prep

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12

Reading

The primary text: Richard II

Main reading task (in addition to reading the play):
(i) Read these two critical pieces: David Scott Kastan's essay; Kantorowicz's essay
(ii) Summarise their main argument in 3-4 sentences each.
(iii) How effective/convincing are their arguments? Which do you like more, and why? Summarise your critical and substantiated response in not more than 5 sentences per essay.
(iv) Bring your summaries to the tutorial, and be prepared to lead a discussion on Richard II based on that.

Additional secondary reading:

Download the reading list here.

For a brief and very basic review of the history plays, see Chapter 8 of Sean McEvoy's Shakespeare: The Basics (Routledge, 2006) -- available as an e-book through the University Library catalogue.

Other prep

Do a 2-page, hand-written, close reading of this passage and bring it with you to the tutorial next week. Pay close attention to the instructions given at the top of the page.