Analyzing Author Intent and Meaning Literary Criticism Analyzing Author Intent and Meaning

Your Goals Demonstrate understanding of Shakespearean drama and literary analysis by: Analyzing William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar through a chosen lens of literary criticism. Total word count: 750-900 words Remain objective and critique without insult, while simultaneously avoiding author flattery.

Your Options Formalism: a study of the form and structure of the play Focus is on a literary device (ie: you may examine the use of metaphor, but you cannot expect to examine metaphor and symbolism thoroughly) New Historicism: a study of the work in context of the time period Focus is on the context and requires background knowledge of the historical time period (in this case both the historical setting, and the historical context of Shakespeare’s England) Feminism: a study of the role of women in a text Focus is on gender representation Marxism: a study of the role of social classes in a text Focus is on the representation of lower classes or criticism of the upper classes

Your Benchmarks Day One: (15-16 March) Go over rubric and example. Choose a lens to examine the play, gather significant quotations, and begin the pre-writing process. Day Two: (17 and 20 March) Review transitions and context for quotations. Work time for a draft of your essay—think of this as a living document, thus it is changeable. You will submit a rough draft to turnitin.com by the end of class, though it need not be complete. Day Three: (21-22 March) Read, revise, and comment on two peers’ papers. Once you have completed this, you will be able to view others’ commentary about your paper and work to make changes and clarify your thinking. Day Four: (23-24 March) Use this time to make changes to your draft and begin to finalize your essay. I would strongly recommend reading aloud and having a peer edit (proofread for errors, listen for logical progression of thought) as you go.

The nitty gritty You should make a Scribe appointment! This will not be a part of your grade, but would fulfill your semester requirement, and will undoubtedly improve your paper. All essays are due (for full credit) on 25 March (Saturday). These need to be submitted to turnitin.com. Yes, this is intentionally end of day on a Saturday just in case you have a Scribe appointment Friday afternoon. You’re welcome. Final deadline for partial credit is 8 April. No essay submissions will be considered for grading after this.