This course is a survey of English literature from the Romantic period to the present day, and, as such, we will be reading and writing about a great variety of works in order to get a sense of the development of English literature in this time span. Since literature reveals the workings of culture, we shall endeavor to create an ongoing conversation on the nature of those workings as we piece together the conversations in which the work itself participates. To this end, I have incorporated many of the Longman Anthology's "Perspectives" sections into the course (see the course schedule), which feature a number of authors writing on a particular issue or in response to a specific work.

The goal of this course is to encourage an understanding of each individual work with the larger context of English literature and, by doing so, learn how to read poetry, drama, and fiction critically. In order to communicate these interpretations, we will also focus on how to write about literature. Thus the goal in this endeavor is to construct essays that write about these genres in a thoughtful, convincing, and effective manner.

Images

Turner, Joseph. WebMusuem: The Burning of the Houses Of Lords and Commons. 12 September 2003. http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/turner/.

Whistler, James Abbott McNeill. WebMusuem: Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Cremorne Lights. 12 September 2003. http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/whistler/.

Clausen, Sir George. Art Renewal Center: An Orchard in May. 12 September 2003. http://www.artrenewal.org/asp/database/art.asp?aid=701