In addition to the discussion topics listed in the table below, this course also included several activities outside of the classroom including screenings, a field trip, and live performances. These are also noted in the table.
| SES # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | |
| I. Witches | ||
| 2 | The social history of witch-hunting | |
| 3 | Witch-hunting discussion | |
| 4 | Introduction to Shakespeare's Macbeth | |
| 5 | Macbeth discussion | |
Screening: Throne of Blood. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Black & White, 110 min. 1957. | ||
| 6 | Shakespeare, Kurosawa and context discussion | |
| 7 | Purcell, Dido and Aeneas | |
| 8 | Purcell discussion | |
| 9 | Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique; Verdi, Macbeth | Essay 1 due |
Screening: Verdi: Macbeth. Directed by Claude d'Anna. Color, 133 min. 1997. | ||
| 10 | Berlioz, Verdi discussion | |
| 11 | Verdi's Macbeth | |
| II. Learned Magic | ||
| 12 | Introduction to learned magic and alchemy Guest: Tara Nummedal | |
| 13 | Visit to MIT Libraries Special Collections | |
| 14 | Introduction to Goethe's Faust | Essay 1 revision due |
Screening: Faust. Directed by F. W. Murnau. Black & White, 85 min. 1926. | ||
| 15 | Goethe's Faust; Murnau | |
| 16 | Murnau's Faust, Marlowe's Faust, and the Faust puppet play | |
| 17 | Faust in music |
|
| 18 | Liszt, Faust Symphony | |
| III. Ghosts | ||
| Field trip to Mt. Auburn Cemetery | ||
| 19 | Henry James and Spiritualism Guest: Paul Fisher | Essay 2 due |
| Live performance of Dido and Aeneas by the MIT Chamber Chorus | ||
| 20 | Introduction to James' The Turn of the Screw | |
| 21 | James' The Turn of the Screw discussion | |
| 22 | Music of Britten's The Turn of the Screw | |
| 23–24 | Student presentations preparation | |
| 25–26 | Student presentations and discussion | Essay 3 due |