Welcome to British Literature to 1800, Fall 2018 edition, MWF @11-11:50! I look forward to taking you through one of the greatest--okay, the greatest--periods in all English-language literature, and reading alongside you as you discover Chaucer's pilgrims and Jane Austen's heroines (and villains).
This course is a highly subjective seminar that tries to trace the “family history” of English literature from around the 10th century to the early 19th. 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, 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.
BE SURE to buy all the books for this course, since you WILL need them. Check the syllabus for the course requirements and calendar, and please e-mail me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to spending the semester with you and these magnificent books!
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