Jan/Feb

Mar

Apr

May

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
This course focuses on British literature of the Romantic era, a period that extends roughly from 1789 (the beginning of the French Revolution) until 1832 (passage of the Reform Bill).  Although the primary focus will be on the literature itself, which we will discuss in great detail, we will also incorporate consideration not only of historical context, but also biographical and intellectual factors as well.

OBJECTIVES
English 315 aims to teach students to:

• identify the major events associated with the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War for Independence as well as the legal, political, and social responses in England and abroad, including the abolition and reform movements.
• identify the major biographical experiences of the writers of the Romantic period.
• explain the importance of these events and experiences to the thinking of these writers.
• examine the literary texts produced by the writers of the period in terms of their use of specific literary techniques as well as their presentation of thematic issues associated with the period, including the concepts of solitude, the imagination, the sublime, the beautiful, and the figures of Nature and the Poet.
• examine the literary texts produced by the writers of the period in terms of their political and intellectual beliefs.
• demonstrate their understanding of course content through participation in class discussions, oral presentations, critical response papers, research papers, and examinations.

1. evaluate the influence of historical and biographical events on the writings of the figures of the Romantic period.
2. analyze the texts produced during the period in terms of representative themes.
3. distinguish between different texts in terms of their aesthetic, political, and philosophical viewpoints.
4. produce effective arguments, in both oral and written forms, regarding the literature of the period.

• Class participation
• Homework questions on the readings
• Critical response paper
• Oral presentation
• Documented research paper using MLA style
• Midterm and final examinations

GRADING

Class Participation Homework Critical Response Paper Midterm Exam Student Presentation Research Paper Final Exam

10 % 10 % 10 % 20 % 10 % 20 % 20 %

REQUIRED TEXTS

• Lynch and Stillinger, eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol. D: The Romantic Period. 10th Ed.
• Shelley, Frankenstein, Norton Critical Edition. 3rd Ed.
  
• Austen, Emma, Norton Critical Edition. 4th Ed.
  

Attendance. Students are expected to attend every class. If you are forced to miss class, written verification for the reason for your absence is expected. Because of the importance of regular attendance, excessive (more than three) unexcused class absences will result in the loss of points from the final average. Excessive lates will also lower your grade. The complete attendance policy can be found on the class homepage . Please come speak with me if you have any questions.

Reading Assignments, Homework, and Participation.  Students are required to bring all necessary books with them to class.  On-line versions are available for most readings, so economic hardship, while certainly a reality for many of us, does not constitute a valid excuse in this context.  Please come speak with me if you have any questions.

All assigned readings must be completed before coming to class.  You are expected to submit responses to all assigned homework questions for the readings before the beginning of class. You are also expected to arrive prepared to provide thoughtful discussions of the daily readings, responding to questions from the instructor or your classmates as they arise.  Classroom discussion will involve the open sharing of ideas and interpretations of the literature.  Because every person's opinion is valid, we will demonstrate civility and respect for each other, taking turns to provide our observations and not interrupting each other.  Only raised hands will be acknowledged.

• All homework assignments must be submitted electronically through Canvas. In-person submissions will not be accepted.
• Late Homework Assignments will receive half credit, but opportunities for "makeup" or "extra" credit will also be available.
  
• Extra Credit:
  • Each day for which questions are assigned, you may submit  responses to ten (10) other discussion questions for the text assigned for that day only.
  • Every two (2) sets of questions will give you credit for one (1) extra assignment, up to a possible total of two and a half (2.5) extra points to be added to your homework grade.
  • There is no half-credit:  fewer than 10 questions (unless there are fewer than 10 on the page) will receive no credit.

Writing Assignments. There will be one (1) brief (800 word minimum) critical response paper,  in addition to one (1) documented research paper (2500 word minimum), using a minimum of eight documented sources, six of which must be secondary sources.

All papers will follow MLA format: Typed, double-spaced, use parenthetical citations and, when necessary, a list of works cited, including references made to the textbook. (Sample MLA Papers can be found on the homepage )  The main point of the response papers is to allow you the opportunity to explore specific aspects of texts that you find interesting in terms of the major themes and issues we discuss, but the specific focus is largely up to you.

• All papers must be submitted through Canvas and are due by the end of the business day on which they are due.  
  
• Late papers will lose 2/3 of a letter grade for each class day.
• ** Plagiarism on any assignment will have dire consequences. **
• Please familiarize yourself with the policy  and let Dr. Mekler know if anything is unclear.
• Of course, plagiarism will not be tolerated. Please familiarize yourself with the policy found on the class homepage and let Dr. Mekler know if anything is unclear.
• In order to have your final research paper accepted, your topic must be approved by the stated deadline. Please come talk to Dr. Mekler if you have any questions.

Reading List (Subject to Subtle Revision):

Jan	24	Course Introduction  Brief Historical Background
	26	Editors' Introduction, 3-30
	28	French Revolution Video
	31	French Revolution Video (cont.)
Feb	2	The French Revolution "The Revolution Controversy," 193-94 Price, 194-97 Burke, 197-204
	4	Wollstonecraft, 204-209 Paine, 209-13
	7	Blake, 122-25 Songs of Innocence and Experience: "The Chimney Sweeper," 131, 137 "The Divine Image," 131-32 "A Divine Image," 145
	9	Wordsworth, 280-82 "Goody Blake and Harry Gill," 282-85 "Lines Written in Early Spring," 289-90
	11	WW, 1805 Prelude, 360-61 Book One, 362-76
	14	WW, 1805 Prelude, from Books Eleven and Thirteen, 400-7
	16	Coleridge, 441-44 Biographia Literaria, Chs. 13 & 14, 496-501 "The Three Graves"
	18	STC, "The Eolian Harp," 444-45 "Frost at Midnight," 482-84
	21	STC, "Dejection:  An Ode," 484-87
	23	The Abolition Movement, 95-96 Clarkson, 98-102 STC, "On the Slave Trade," 115-17
	25	Equiano, 104-12 and Prince,
	28	Blake, "The Little Black Boy," 130 WW, "To Toussaint L'Ouverture," 356-57 WW, "September 1, 1802," 357
Mar	2	Mid-Term Review
	4	Midterm Examination
	7	Female Voices Wollstonecraft, from Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 218-49 Critical Response Paper Due
	9	Dorothy Wordsworth, Grasmere Journals, 407-19 WW, "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud," 345-46
	11	** No Class **
	14-16	** Spring Break: No Class **
	21	Jane Austen, Emma,  Introduction vii-xxxii Vol. I, 5-106
	23	Emma, Vol. I, cont.
	25	Emma, Vol. II, 107-216
	28	Emma, Vol. III, 216-333
	30	Research Paper Discussion Read the Sample Paper
Apr	1	The Younger Generation Lord Byron, 608-12 and Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, Canto Three, 618-33
	4	Byron,  Don Juan, Dedication, 668-69 and Canto I, 669-700 Research Topic Due
	6	Canto I, Cont.
	8	Percy Shelley, 763-66 "Ozymandias," 790 "To a Sky-Lark," 849-52
	11	PBS, Prometheus Unbound, 808-47
	13	PBS, Prometheus Unbound, cont.
	15	** Wellness Day: No Class **
	18	Hemans, 902-903 "Bride of the Greek Isle" "Properzia Rossi," 909-12 Last Day to Have Final Research Paper Topics Approved
	20	Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Editor's Introduction: (F),  viii-xix Author's Introduction: (F), 217-22 Author's Preface, (F), 7-8
	22	Frankenstein, Vol. One, (F): 9-62
	25	Frankenstein, Vol. Two, (F): 63-110
	27	Frankenstein, Vol. Three, (F): 110-68
	29	Keats, 950-52  Endymion, 955-59 Letters, 1014-26
May	2	Keats, "The Fall of Hyperion," 1001-13
	4	Research Paper Due Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences/Lates
	6	Final Exam

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