Syllabus: Fall, 2008
A. Required Text:
Abrams, et al, ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol. 1, Eighth Edition. Norton, 2006. ISBN: 0-393-92531-5
B. Course Requirements:
(1) A journal [3 units] in which students will be asked to write entries on every text studied. It must be submitted twice, on Tuesday, Oct 14 and Tuesday, Dec 2. Each entry must be written neatly and dated. The journal will be graded on: (a) thoroughness: each entry must show that you have read the text in question; (b) quality of thought and critical engagement with the text; (c) neatness of presentation; (d) promptness: you may be asked to read aloud from your journal in any given class. An incomplete journal will result in failure of the entire course.
(2) One class presentation (1 unit);
(3) A final examination [3 units]: Tuesday, December 16, 2:00-5:00.
(4) Class participation counts for 2 units. If you do not contribute to class discussion your grade will not be higher than a C. If you disrupt the class by talking or arriving late, you risk failing the entire course.
(5) Attendance: any unexcused absence will lower the student’s grade by one point, e.g. from D to D-.
Anyone missing an assignment, for whatever reason, should see me as soon as possible.
C. Course Description:
A survey, within their historical contexts, of some of the renowned texts of English literature from the Middle Ages through the eighteenth century.
Weekly Class Assignments:
THE MIDDLE AGES:
Tue Sept 2: Introduction to the Course and to the Middle Ages.
Thu Sept 4: Bede, Caedmon’s Hymn, The Dream of the Rood (pp. 25-29).
Tue Sept 9: Beowulf.
Thu Sept 11: Judith; The Wanderer.
Tue Sept 16: Marie de France, Lanval.
Thu Sept 18: Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, General Prologue (pp. 218-238).
Tue Sept 23: Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale (pp. 284- 297).
Thu Sept 25: William Langland, Piers Plowman (pp. 333-354).
Tue Sept 30: Piers Plowman (pp. 357-367).
THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY:
Thu Oct 2: Introduction.
Tue Oct 7: Sir Thomas More, Utopia.
Thu Oct 9: The English Bible; William Tyndale, John Calvin (pp. 619-627).
Tue Oct 14: Book of Common Prayer, Book of Homilies, Hooker (pp. 632-640).
Thu Oct 16: Women in Power: Mary I, Lady Jane Grey (pp. 663-675).
Tue Oct 21: John Lyle, Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (pp. 907-909).
Thu Oct 23: Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophil and Stella.
Tue Oct 28: William Shakespeare, sonnets.
THE EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY:
Thu Oct 30: Introduction; John Donne, poems.
Tue Nov 4: Ben Jonson, Volpone.
Thu Nov 6: Andrew Marvell, “To his Coy Mistress.”
Tue Nov 11: Francis Bacon, “Of Truth, “Of Superstition;” Advancement of Learning.
Thu Nov 13: Lucy Hutchinson; Lady Anne Halkett.
Tue Nov 18: John Milton, Lycidas (pp. 1806-1811); Areopagitica (pp. 1816- 1825).
THE RESTORATION AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURY:
Thu Nov 20: John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe (pp. 2112-2117); Locke, “Epistle to the Reader,” (pp. 2152-2155).
Tue Nov 25: Mary Astell, Some Reflections of Marriage; Daniel Defoe, Roxana.
Thanksgiving.
Tue Dec 2: Frances Burney, Journal and Letters (pp. 2811-2827).
Thu Dec 4: Samuel Johnson, The Vanity of Human Wishes (pp. 2662-2670).
Tue Dec 9: Thomas Gray, “Elegy;” Oliver Goldsmith, The Deserted Village.
Final Examination: Tuesday, December 16, 2:00-5:00.