Welcome to the Course!

Welcome to the course blog for English 2643, British Literature to 1800 at East Central University. As the syllabus explains, 

"This course is a highly subjective seminar that tries to trace the “family history” of English literature from around the 10th century to the late 18th. I like to think of this class as a tour of a great museum: there’s too much to see in one day (or one semester), so we could either rush through and click off each painting (“yes, there’s Shakespeare’s Sonnets, and here’s Pride and Prejudice”), OR we could pick a painting in each room and say, “okay, let’s really sit down and examine this painting.” I’ve chosen six “paintings” for us to read this semester, hoping that our discussions will teach us about the people who wrote them, the time that shaped them, and the legacy of literary criticism that makes these texts relevant in the 21st century. The challenge for the student is to read slowly and attentively, and not be discouraged by works that frustrate our modern notions of what literature is or should be. So whether you are an ardent Anglophile or are racked with metrophobia (fear of poetry), you will find something in this class that moves you…confuses you…inspires you…and intimidates you. Read with an open mind and don’t be afraid to ask questions."

This is probably my favorite course to teach at ECU, and I've taught it numerous times since arriving here in 2006. I've never taught it the same way twice, since this class, more than any other, invites experimentation. No other class contains so many great authors, great books, and great ideas--almost 1,000 years worth! This year, I've designed several new themes and approaches which I hope you'll find interesting, and in the process, introduce you to some old favorites as well as a few books you've probably never heard of. Be sure to buy all the book as soon as possible, since we'll start reading immediately, and the bookstore will send unsold books back in a few weeks. The reading list is below:

Anonymous        Beowulf (Heaney translation or other)

Chaucer             The Canterbury Tales (Oxford Classics or other)

Shakespeare      Othello (Norton Critical required)

Behn                 Oronooko (Norton Critical required)

Pope                  The Rape of the Lock and Other Poems (Signet or other)

Austen               Lady Susan (Dover or other) 

Check this site often for discussion questions, announcements, and paper assignments. I look forward to learning and reading alongside you this semester!