Fall 1997 Dan Lochman / Deborah Orsag
British Literature before 1785
English 2310.2
Time and Place:
TTh 12:30-1:45
FH 341
Office and Phone:
245-7685 (office)
Hours 10-11 TTh,
10-12 MWF & by appointment
General Description:
This course features extensive readings in the major works of English literature from Anglo-Saxon times through the 18th century. Readings cover major literary genres, including poetry, drama, and fiction and are intended to deepen understanding of our cultural heritage in its distinctive character and its enduring effects on us. Students respond to readings in class discussion and writing assignments.
Requirements and Percentages:
Quiz (1) 5%
Period Examinations (2) 20% each
Midterm Examination (50% essay) 25%
Final Examination (67% essay) 30%
Students with an average of B or above after the second examination may write a five-page analysis of an assigned work rather than the third period examination. Examinations typically include identification of terminology and passages from texts as well as essays testing analytic skills or synthesizing readings. Students may expect unannounced quizzes as required.
Texts:
Abrams, M. H. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Volume I. Sixth edition.
New York: Norton, 1993. (NAEL)
__________. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Sixth edition. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1993.
(GLT)
*****************************************************************************
Daily Schedule
Note: The following schedule is tentative and subject to revision. It is to help you plan and prepare assignments and readings, whether they are discussed in class or not. With the exception of the first day's class, readings and exercises are always to be completed prior to the date for which they are scheduled, unless you are instructed otherwise.
1 August 28 Th Introduction. Historical and linguistic backgrounds. GTL: genre,
criticism, interpretation and hermeneutics
2 September 2 T Medieval Literature, NAEL, 1-5; Bede and "Caedmon's Hymn,"
16-19. Beowulf, 21-55. GTL: epic, kenning, oral formulaic
poetry.
4 Th Beowulf, 55-68.
3 9 T Chaucer: Backgrounds and lyrics. NAEL, 5-15, 76-79;
"Gentilesse," "Truth" "Complaint to His Purse," 197-199. GLT:
symbol, figurative language, imagery, rhyme. Quiz 1.
11 Th Canterbury Tales. General Prologue, 81-100. GLT: persona, tone,
voice; character.
4 16 T The Miller's Prologue and Tale, 101-117. GLT: Fabliau, stock
characters.
18 Th The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale, 117-144. GLT: chivalric
romance.
5 23 T The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale (cont.).
25 Th Period Examination 1.
6 30 T Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 200-225. GLT: courtly love.
October 2 Th Sir Gawain, 225-254.
7 7 T Medieval Drama. Mystery and morality plays (GLT). Second
Shepherds' Play (319-344).
9 Th Second Shepherds' Play (cont.). Everyman (363-384).
8 14 T The Sixteenth Century. NAEL, 413-433. Sir Philip Sidney, The
Defence of Poesy, 479-500. GLT: humanism, Renaissance.
16 Th The sixteenth century lyric: selections from Wyatt, 438-450;
Sidney, 458-473; Spenser, 503-509, 734-748; Marlowe, 749-767;
Shakespeare, 808-822, Elizabeth I, 997-999, Aemilia Lanyer,
1059-1062. GLT: blank verse, conceit, lyric, meter, pastoral,
sonnet.
9 21 T The lyric (cont.).
23 Th Midterm Examination.
10 28 T Edmund Spenser, 501-503. The Faerie Queene, Book I, Cantos
1-2.
30 Th The Faerie Queene, Cantos 3-6.
11 November 4 T The Faerie Queene, Cantos 6-10.
6 Th The Faerie Queene, Cantos 11-12.
12 11 T Elizabethan drama. Shakespeare, NAEL, 801-803. King Lear,
Acts I-II, 888-925. GLT: plot, tragedy.
13 Th King Lear, Acts III-IV.
13 18 T King Lear, Act V. The Early Seventeenth Century: NAEL, 1069-
1079.
20 Th Metaphysical and cavalier poets (GLT). Donne, Jonson, Herrick,
Herbert, Marvell; Lady Mary Wroth, Lady Montagu, Milton
(selections). GLT: metaphysical conceit, epigram, paradox,
concrete poem, pastoral elegy.
14 25 T Period Examination 2.
27 Th Thanksgiving holiday.
15 December 2 T The Restoration and Eighteenth Century, NAEL, 1767-1786.
Gulliver's Travels, 2039-2082. GLT: satire, point of view.
4 Th Gulliver's Travels, 2136-2181.
Comprehensive Final Examination --
Wednesday, December 10, 11:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
COURSE POLICIES
Read the following immediately and carefully, so that you have a clear understanding of basic course procedures.
Ground rules:
1) On the second day of class expect to be assigned seating. On all subsequent class days, use the seat assigned. This procedure will speed distribution of assignments and graded papers. Memorize and record your seat number on all quizzes and tests.
2) Each class day, expect to sign an attendance sheet. Do not leave class early because doing so is rude and disrupts class. Classes are planned to make full use of each class period.
3) More than four unexcused absences will result in the loss of one letter grade at the end of the semester. More than six will constitute automatic failure. An "unexcused" absence occurs when a student fails to notify me in advance of an absence and when no prior arrangements have been made to make up missed work.
4) I would like to believe that college students are mature enough to perform honest work without resorting to cheating or plagiarism. Unfortunately, both research and experience demonstrate that some students lack the will or ethical fortitude to do their own work. Expect that measures will be taken to prevent dishonesty and to identify those who are dishonest. Always turn finished quizzes and examinations over until time is called.
5) Class discussion is a positive thing, but present your ideas to the entire class. Private discussions disrupt concentration and can lead others to incorrect conclusions. Class size dictates that extraneous noise be kept to a minimum.
6) Use the daily syllabus to help plan your work load for reading and writing assignments. It is the student's responsibility to schedule work around those dates. Quizzes may not be made up if they are missed.
7) Don't allow yourself to slip into nameless anonymity. I hope to see all of you at least once in my office, if for no other reason than just to chat informally about literature. In addition to regularly scheduled office hours, I shall be available for conferences by appointment.