[ENAM 0330]
Shakespeare and Contexts

Rate This Class

Professor: Billings

Value of Course / Overall Score

Not Much (9.1%
Average (0%)
Valuable (90.9%)

Material

Friendly (0%)
Average (9.1%)
Competitive (90.9%)

Class Atmosphere

Boring (72.7%)
Average (27.3%)
Fascinating (0%)

Prep Time Needed

1-2hr (0%)
3-5hr (45.5%)
6-8hr (54.5%)
9-11hr (0%)
12+ hr (0%)

Grade Weighting

Harder (0%)
Average (18.2%)
Easier (81.8%)

Adequate Assistance

Yes (90.9%)
No (9.1%)

Would Recommend Class

Yes (90.9%)
No (9.1%)

Evaluation Comments for Billings

  1. Billings was a great professor. The biggest complaint I had about this class, however, was the pace at which we read the plays. It was a play a week, and to be honest by about the fifth or sixth play (out of ten), the characters and plotlines were starting to melt together. We also read a ton of comedies, which don't happen to be my particular favorite--I'm more of a history and tragedy guy. That said, if you like comedies and can handle a play a week, it's not a terribly difficult class. There are two five-page papers, and the topics for both of these are for you to decide. The final, with a bit of studying, was also a piece of cake.
  2. Billings can be a bit weird and formal, but great background in Shakespeare.
  3. This is a great class, especially if you're trying to fulfill your Shakespeare requirement for the English major. You cover a lot of plays, but learn some very interesting things about them and Shakespeare as a person and writer. Professor Billings is extremely knowledgeable about the topic and therefore brings a great deal to discussion and lectures. The work is more than manageable and the grades are very reasonable and fair.
  4. You read a play a week and you really can't mess around on that; there are weekly comprehension quizzes. However, the plays that Billings assigns are really good, for the most part. Don't be afraid to speak up in class. Billings is SO enthusiastic and friendly, he really wants you to like him and to love Shakespeare. He certainly does. A very passionate teacher and a very well taught class. NOT hard to do well, but still fascinating. Yay!
  5. I really did not get much out of this course. Billings things a lot of himself and it is undeserved.
  6. This is a wonderful, wonderful course, and the best that I have taken at Middlebury so far. The plays are great, Shakespeare is great, and Billings is great! If you are considering taking this course at all, take it!!
  7. This is an amazing class that everyone should take. Billings i so many things about Shakespeare that you learn and never thought about. The workload is manageable; a play a week and a few papers. Take this class.
  8. This course was by far my favorite taken at Middlebury. Professor Billings is purely brilliant, and I was fully engaged and truly interested in every lecture and class discussion. Whether you are an English major or not, this class will give you a wonderful and valuable background on Shakespeare and will expose you to an understanding of his plays that is unmatched. As a senior English major, I must say that Professor Billings is arguably the most talented in the department that I have encountered, and it is extremely worthwhile to take any of his classes. For me, it is professors like Billings that make this college as renowned as it is.
  9. While the old "Harvard trick" is used (ie giving quotes for one to identify), Billings knows his stuff; he's one of the greats. Plus, if you like boys dressed up as girls, you'll be amused to no end.
  10. Prof. Billings really knows his stuff, and is really passionate about sharing what he knows with his students. I really liked that his interpretation of Shakespeare is open and flexible- a professor for one of the other Shakespeare classes is definitely not like that. The material is probably 60% background or outside information and 40% content interpretation and analysis. The screenings are valuable and interesting, and it is very important to keep up with the reading (a play a week), which can be challenging, but there are quizzes each week. Overall, a fantastic class and engeging professor. Highly recommended.
  11. Fascinating stuff, great professor-- especially if there are as few students as when I took it. Great back-and-forth, seminar-style discourse.

INSTRUCTIONS : Click class or professor names to see scores, Click to submit your own review.

All classes taught by Billings :

All professors who teach this class:


Evaluate this course

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

My Evaluation of Shakespeare and Contexts by Billings


1 Value of course and concepts to overall education:
2 Did you find the material presented ...
3 Overall class atmosphere:
4 Hours per week spent preparing for class:
5 Were your grades deserving of your efforts?
6 Professor or assistants were available to help, if needed:
7 Would you take another class with this professor?
8Would you recommend this class to a friend: