ENGLISH 538/Section 41

Fall, 1999; Tu 7:20-10:00 P.M., Estate 302

R.H. Passon

Course Description (from graduate catalog)

                An examination of the major developments in English poetry between 1660 and 1780, excluding Milton.  The reading list will include works by Rochester, Dryden, Behn, Pope, Gay, Johnson, Gray, Collins, and Goldsmith, as well as lesser-known figures from this period.

Objectives

1.        The student should have read, with care and understanding, representative works of the major poets of the Restoration and Eighteenth Century in England.

2.        The student should be able to give an account of the history of English poetry in the Restoration and Eighteenth Century, and to place the following poets in that account:  Dryden, Pope, Johnson, Swift, Gay, Gray, Goldsmith, Collins, Rochester, and Behn.

3.        The student should be able to identify and explain major events of English history and major literary and social issues relevant to the development of poetry in the Restoration and Eighteenth Century.

4.        The student should be able to demonstrate her/his familiarity with the bibliographic tools and resources appropriate to the study of poetry in Restoration and Eighteenth Century England and of the poets cited above, and to apply these tools and resources to literary research.

5.        The student should be able to demonstrate her/his capacity to develop critical analyses of poetry from Restoration and Eighteenth Century England in the context of established critical approaches.

6.        The student should be able to recognize, identify, and use accurately literary terms and concepts applicable to English poetry of the Restoration and Eighteenth Century, and to understand and apply appropriate literary conventions.

7.        The student should be able to express (orally and in writing) insights which relate  her/his readings of poems of the Augustan period to fundamental questions of human behavior and value, and to contemporary thought.

Texts

Fairer, David and Christine Gerrard, eds. Eighteenth-Century Poetry: An Annotated Anthology.

     Blackwell, Malden, Massachusetts: 1999.   

Dryden, John. A Critical Edition of the Major Works, ed. Keith Walker.  Oxford, New York, 1987.

Pope, Alexander, A Critical Edition of the Major Works, ed. Pat Rogers.  Oxford, New York, 1993.

Thorpe, Peter.  18^th. Century English Poetry.  Nelson-Hall, Chicago,  1975.

Work of the Course

1.0          Summary

1.0                 Read and discuss poems – 25%

1.1                 Develop bibliography on minor poet –10%

1.2                 Give oral report on minor poet—10%

1.3                 Write research paper—30%

1.4                 Complete two hour final—25%

Total -----100%

2.0                Reading

The minimum required reading for the course includes all of the material listed on the schedule of class meetings.  The material in the Thorpe book, which will be used as a reference through the semester, is also required.  I will conduct classes with the expectation that the poems we are to consider have been read prior to the dates listed on the schedule.  I will expect students to take an active part in class discussions of these poems.  This work constitutes 25% of the grade for the course.

3.0                Bibliography

Each student is to develop a complete bibliography on one of the minor poets of the Restoration and Eighteenth-Century, from the list outlined below.  I will discuss the details of this assignment, which is due to be completed on September 28, in class.  Only one student will be assigned to any one poet,  so choices are first come first served.  These poets which also be the subject for the oral report and research  paper, noted below.

Poets for Assignments

4.0                Oral Report

Each student will prepare and deliver in class a brief oral report (20-25 minutes) on the life and works of one of the minor poets of the period (the same poet chosen for the bibliography assignment.  The report will also include a close reading with the class of a poem (or a significant except) by the poet.  The dates for the reports will be assigned after the choices of poets for assignments have been made.

5.0                Research Paper

Each student is expected to write a research paper (about 10 to 15 double-spaced typed pages) which develops an original critical or historical thesis concerning one of the poems of the poet chosen for the other assignments.  Thesis statements are to be submitted for my review on or before October 12.  Research papers are due on December 7.

6.0                Final

There will be a two hour, comprehensive final examination on December 14.  The final exam will count 25% toward the final grade for the course.

7.0                Some Ground Rules

7.0                 All students will be expected to attend all classes, since classes meet only once a week.

7.1                 All assignments are to completed and turned in by the date assigned.

7.2                 I expect everyone to be an active participant in class discussions.

7.3                 I will be available in my office for 15 minutes before and after each class.  My office is Room 300, The Estate.  You can also arrange to see me at other times by calling my office (961-7520 or 7521) and asking for an appointment.  If you do so, please identify yourself to my staff as a student in this course.  You can also reach me via e-mail.  My e-mail address is passonr1@uofs.edu.

Schedule of Class Meetings