What happens to a message when it is translated from one place or time to another, from one medium to another? Are there things that simply cannot be translated, that inevitably “get lost in translation”? If so, what are the implications of this failure for our understanding of our own culture or other cultures? Through a series of reading and writing assignments, this course will consider how literary texts are translated into a different language or medium, into different historical and cultural contexts, and for different audiences. For example, by looking at how Shakespeare is translated across time and cultures, we will examine how gender, class, race, and historical circumstances affect the way writers communicate their message in poetry, fiction, and plays. Throughout the semester, students will also reflect on what it takes to be fluent in a culture or society today. Class activities include grammar puzzles or reading comprehension quizzes, a brief “translation” essay, several poetry translations, a rewrite of a Shakespearean monologue, two short response papers, and a 7-8 page argumentative essay. The final portfolio is a selection of your best, previously graded work.