Survey of English Literature I

TEXT:

GRADING POLICY:

NOTE: The dates for the quizzes are firm, and no make-up quizzes will be given.
 

The quizzes cover material we have discussed in class up to that date and consist of identification of quotations important literary terms, and/or historical figures. For each quotation identification, you will need to provide the name of the work and author where the quotation appears and write a paragraph (of around 5 sentences) where you discuss the significance of the quotation. For the identification of important terms and/or historical figures, you will need to write a short paragraph (of around 3 sentences) where you discuss the significance of that item.

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to English literature written between 800 and 1800. We will be reading many texts in a short period of time. You expected to have read the texts assigned before the beginning of class and to be prepared to discuss them. Some of the readings are difficult because they are written in a manner you may not be used to reading. Be prepared to spend some time reading these texts in order to understand them. For these reasons, you will not be writing any literary analysis essays for this class. For each work, I will be posting discussion topics; students should review these topics before reading the works and be prepared to participate in the class discussion.

Attendance will not be taken. Students who are absent are responsible for any material missed.

As a courtesy to your fellow students and to your professor, please arrive to class on time, and turn off all cellular telephones.

Note:  this list of readings suggests more the order in which we are going to be discussing the works rather than the actual day in we will be discussing them.  Check below in the Upcoming Assignments section for the assignments for the upcoming week. The Study Questions are linked to the text.

In addition to the specific literary works listed below, you must read in the textbook the introductory material for the periods and for the authors we will be covering.

DATE	READING
August 24	Introduction to the Anglo-Saxon Period (596-1066)
August 26	Beowulf(p. 29)
August 28	Introduction to the Medieval Period (1066-1485)
August 31	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (p. 160)
September 02
September 04	Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue (p. 218)
September 07	Labor Day--No School
September 09	“The Miller’s Tale” (p. 239)
September 11	Everyman (p. 463)
September 14	Introduction to the Renaissance (1485-1660)
September 16	Spencer, The Faerie Queene Book 1 (p. 719)
September 18
September 21	EXAM # 1 NOTE: PLEASE BE ON TIME BECAUSE ONCE THE FIRST PERSON FINISHES THE EXAM AND LEAVES THE ROOM THE EXAM WILL BE COMPROMISED AND ANY ONE ARRIVING THEREAFTER WILL BE CONSIDERED BEING ABSENT FOR THE EXAM.
September 23	Sidney, Astrophil and Stella (#1 p. 975), The Defence of Poesy (p. 953)
September 25	Marlowe, Dr. Faustus (p. 1023)
September 28	Shakespeare, King Lear (p. 1139)
September 30	Donne, “The Flea” (p. 1263), “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” (p. 1275)
October 02	“Holy Sonnets” (#5, p. 1295)
October 05	Jonson, Volpone (p. 1334)
October 07	Jonson, “To Penshurst” (p. 1434)
October 09	Herbert, “The Altar” (p. 1607); Herrick, “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” (p. 1659)
October 12	Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress” (p. 1703)
October 14	Milton, Lycidas (p. 1805)
October 16	Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 1(p. 1830)
October 19	EXAM # 2 NOTE: PLEASE BE ON TIME BECAUSE ONCE THE FIRST PERSON FINISHES THE EXAM AND LEAVES THE ROOM THE EXAM WILL BE COMPROMISED AND ANY ONE ARRIVING THEREAFTER WILL BE CONSIDERED BEING ABSENT FOR THE EXAM.
October 21	Introduction to the Restoration and the 18th Century (1660-1800)
October 23	Dryden, “Mac Flecknoe” (p. 2111)
October 26	Dryden, An Essay of Dramatic Poesy (p. 2125)
October 28	Behn, Oronooko (p. 2183)
October 30	Congreve, The Way of the World (p. 2228)
November 02	Swift, Modest Proposal (p. 2462)
November 04	Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (p. 2323)
November 06
November 09	Pope, An Essay on Criticism (p. 2496)
November 11	Veteran’s Day–No School
November 13
November 16	EXAM # 3 NOTE: PLEASE BE ON TIME BECAUSE ONCE THE FIRST PERSON FINISHES THE EXAM AND LEAVES THE ROOM THE EXAM WILL BE COMPROMISED AND ANY ONE ARRIVING THEREAFTER WILL BE CONSIDERED BEING ABSENT FOR THE EXAM.
November 18	Pope, The Rape of the Lock (p. 2513)
November 20	Johnson, “The Vanity of Human Wishes” (p. 2666)
November 23	Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” (p. 2867)
November 25	Goldsmith, “The Deserted Village” (p. 2877)
November 27	Thanksgiving–No School
November 30	Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (p. 2850)
December 02
December 04	The birth of the novel
December 11	EXAM #4 7:30-9:30 A.M. Note the earlier time. NOTE: PLEASE BE ON TIME BECAUSE ONCE THE FIRST PERSON FINISHES THE EXAM AND LEAVES THE ROOM THE EXAM WILL BE COMPROMISED AND ANY ONE ARRIVING THEREAFTER WILL BE CONSIDERED BEING ABSENT FOR THE EXAM.

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT CLASS MEETINGS

Monday,November 23: conclude The Way of the World; Modest Proposal

Wednesday, November 25: The Rape of the Lock

Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving–No School

COURSE LINKS

The Faerie Queene plot summary

Monarchs:  pictures of many of the monarchs we are studying.

Literary Figures:  pictures of many of the authors we are reading.

Other Important Figures:  pictures of some of the other important figures discussed.