Major Authors: Oscar Wilde and the '90's

Assignments

SES #	ASSIGNMENTS
3	Organize some questions to help us to understand Hausman’s Shropshire Lad (whatever Stoppard may suggest about it or about the conditions of its production).
4	Organize some questions that would point toward Ruskin’s aesthetic theories (reflected in, not necessarily accurately, in the Geo Murphy play). Organize some questions that would point toward Pater’s aesthetic theories.
5	Walk us through the textual history of Whitman’s unpublished poem “Live Oak (,) with Moss” — more than other recent presentations, this one will involve more factual presentation by Wilhelm von Gloeden, Thos Eakins.
6	Help us to read Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. Probably, a simple list of informed study-questions will get us organized.
7	Help us to read Wilde’s Salome. Probably, a simple list of informed study-questions will get us organized. This class will also have a “primary” presentation on the history of the text, so you should concentrate on interpretative questions. The textual, translation, and reception history of Salome. This class will also have a “primary” presentation on interpretative questions about the text, so you should concentrate on the textual questions, the plans for production, and the scandal.
8	Organize questions to help us through Wilde Dorian Gray. This presenation should concentrate on Basil; another will look at the influence of Lord Henry. Organize questions to help us through Wilde’s Dorian Gray. This presenation should concentrate on the influence of Lord Henry; another will look at the ideas Basil presents or represents.
9	Lewis Carroll / mathematician / photographer: wis Carroll, Alice…in Wonderland. Consider the Freudian interpretative essay; you’re under no obligation to accept it, but if you want to disagree, do so informatively.
10	Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest. Help us to understand whether this play is serious and pretending to be privolous, or privolous and pretending to depth…. or neither, or both.
11	Help us understand in what ways the Kaufman text (Gross Indecencies) is accurate, or not. Check the Richard Ellmann biography of Wilde and at least one other bio or critical study.
12	Read Wayne Koestenbaum on “Reading Goal” and help us to understand Wilde some “Reading Goal,” some “De Profundis”.