Texts and Contexts: Enlish Literature before 1660

TEXT:

ASSIGNMENTS:

3 essays (5-7 pages typewritten)
Mid-Term Exam
Final Exam
Each assignment will be weighed equally.

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

The exams 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.

For each essay, you will be asked to examine of one of the works we will have discussed in the third of the semester preceding the due date of the essay. Because this is a course in the Department of English, I expect the essays to be well written, free from grammatical errors, coherent and unified, and supported with specific evidence from the texts. See http://faculty.fiu.edu/~casinesg/Guidelines.htm for information on the specific format required for the essays. You are encouraged not to consult outside sources in the preparation of your essay; however, should you make use of other material, you need to acknowledge such borrowings. Failure to provide proper and complete documentation will result in an F for the course. Essays turned in late will be penalized.

The essay should analyze an aspect of the work chosen and the manner in which it relates to the theme of the course “Concepts of Authority.” I will be posting essay topics from which you will choose one. You are welcomed to discuss with me your thesis and development of the topic. If this is the first upper-division course you take in English, I strongly encourage you to begin to work on your essay early and to consult with me to ensure that you understand the expectations of the this type of assignment. I will post rubrics so that you understand better what exactly is expected in an essay for a junior-level course in literature.

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.

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.

Concepts of Authority
The “context” of this course is Concepts of Authority. In addition to discussing important issues about each of the texts assigned, we will address how authority is viewed and what is the relationship between the governed and those who govern. Who is in authority and why? What is each person’s relationship to that authority? What are the obligations of the governed? Of those who govern? Who were some of the important political philosophers of the time? How did concepts of authority change in the one thousand years we will be covering? How did the concept of personal freedom vs obedience to authority evolve during this period?

This syllabus 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.

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.

NOTE FOR ALL THE EXAMS: 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.

DATE	READING ASSIGNMENT
01/09	Course Introduction
01/11	The Anglo-Saxon World (596-1066)
01/13	Beowulf (p. 29)
01/16	No School–Martin Luther King Holiday
01/18
01/20	“The Wanderer” (p. 111)
01/23
01/25	The Medieval World (1066-1485)
01/27	Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (p. 160)
01/30
02/01	Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue (p. 218)
02/03
02/06	Chaucer, “The Miller’s Tale” (p. 239)
02/08	ESSAY #1 DUE
02/10	Everyman (p. 463)
02/13
02/15	Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain (p. 118); Malory, Morte Darthur, p. 438
02/17
02/20	The Renaissance World (1485-1660)
02/22	More, Utopia (p. 521)
02/24
02/27	Mid-Term Exam
02/29	Hoby, The Courtier (p. 645)
03/01	Spencer, The Faerie Queen, Book 1 (p. 719)
03/05
03/07	Sidney, The Defence of Poesy (p. 953); Jonson, Timber (p. 1448)
03/09
03/12	No School–Spring Break
03/14	No School–Spring Break
03/16	No School–Spring Break
03/19	Marlowe, Dr. Faustus (p. 1023) ESSAY #2 DUE
03/21
03/23	Shakespeare, King Lear (p. 1139)
03/26
03/28	Jonson, Volpone (p. 1334)
03/30
04/02	Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 1 (p. 1830)
04/04
04/06	Jonson, “To Penshust” (p. 1434)
04/09	Marvell, “Upon Appleton House” (p. 1716)
04/11
04/13	Hobbes, Leviathan (p. 1594)
04/16	Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (p. 2323)
04/18
04/20	ESSAY #3 DUE
04/27	7:30-9:30 a.m. (Note the earlier time) Final Exam

ASSIGNMENTS FOR NEXT CLASS MEETINGS

Monday, April 16: finish Jonson, Volpone

Wednesday, April 18: begin Paradise Lost, Book 1

Friday, April 20: finish Paradise Lost, Book 1

Friday, April 27: 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Note the earlier time) Final Exam--material covered beginning with Monmouth to Milton

NOTE FOR ALL THE EXAMS: 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.

Topics for Essay #3

Correction Symbols

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.
 

Writing Essays About Literature