English 714: Presentation Topics

English 714
Student Presentations

Students are expected to give a brief (15-20 minutes) oral presentation on one of the assigned readings for the semester, during which they will examine particular aspects of the text in order to provide a deeper appreciation of the text's meaning.

A written version of the presentation will be submitted at the time of the presentation.
Although no secondary source material is required for this assignment, all sources must be clearly cited in the written version of the presentation.
Oral citation of sources will be insufficient and may lead to serious consequences (Please familiarize yourself with the Graduate School's guidelines on academic dishonesty, which can be found in the most recent catalog).

Possible topics (please feel free to develop a topic of your own):


Aug	19	Course Introduction
		A. Feminism and Gender
	26	Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Woman The Wrongs of Woman, or Maria Wollstonecraft's view of women Female Education Language of Slavery Maria as exemplification of theories in Vindication Role of Godwin as Editor Significance of Class Sexual Identity and Morality Character of Darnford Character of Jemima Portrayal of British Legal System Mother-Daughter Relationships Concept of Confinement
Sept	9	Hays, The Victim of Prejudice Sexual Identity and Morality Economic dependence Burke's Benevolent Patriarch Concept of Confinement Portrayal of British Legal System Mother-Daughter Relationships
	16	Lister, I Know My Own Heart WW, “To the Lady E.B and the Hon. Miss P” Construction of Identity Personal vs. Public Writing Personal vs. Public Reading Use of (Coded) Language Role of Class Homosocial vs Homosexual Relationships
		B. Slavery and Abolition
	23	Phillis Wheatley “To the University of Cambridge, in New-England” “To S. M., a Young African Painter” “To the Right Hon. William, Earl of Dartmouth” “On Being Brought from Africa to America” “An Hymn to Morning” “A Farewell to America. To Mrs. S. W.” “On Imagination” “To His Excellency George Washington” “On the Death of Gen. Wooster” Use of Language Subversion vs. Submission Religion Intersections: Race, Class, Gender (Maia) African/American/European Culture
	30	Equiano, Narrative of the Interesting Life (Gates 15-247) Use of Language Subversion vs. Submission Religion Intersections: Race, Class, Gender African/American/European Culture


Oct	7	Cugoano, Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil of Slavery Prince, History of Mary Prince (Gates 249-321) Religion and Use of the Bible (Crystal) 1787 vs. 1791 editions: Consequences of Revisions Thought vs. Sentiment and the Use(s) of Each Construction of Identity Oral vs. Written Voice Subversion vs. Submission Intersections: Race, Class, Gender
	14	Earle, Obi, or, the History of Three-Fingered Jack Edgeworth, “The Grateful Negro” White portrayals of Black characters African vs. European Religion Relationships between Slaves and Slaves Relationships between Slaves and Masters Slave Rebellion and the French Revolution Abolitionism and Sentimentality
	21	Blake, “The Little Black Boy,” “Visions of the Daughters of Albion” Coleridge, “Greek Prize Ode on the Slave Trade” “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Intersections: Race, Class, Gender African Traditions/Imagery American/British Culture & Society White portrayals of Black characters
	28	Southey, from Poems on the Slave Trade WW, “To Toussaint L’Ouverture” “September 1st, 1802” (“The Banished Negroes”) “To Thomas Clarkson” “Queen and Negress chaste and fair!” Private vs. Public Writing/Correspondence Intersections: Race, Class, Gender Images of the Exotic Other White portrayals of Black characters
		C. Colonialism and Orientalism
Nov	4	Lewis, Journals of a West Indian Proprietor Amelioration vs. Emancipation Representations of Empire Representations of Power
	11	Byron, The Giaour The Bride of Abydos The Corsair Figure of the Byronic Hero Figure of the Turkish Other (Sara) Religion and Empire Gender and Power
	18	Byron, "Tale of Calil" and "Augustus Darvell" Polidori, The Vampyre Figure of the Byronic Hero Figure of the Turkish Other Religion and Empire Gender and Power
	25	P. Shelley, Hellas De Quincey, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater English Self vs. Turkish Other Reliability of the Autobiographical Narrator Prostitutes and other Marginalized Figures Dreams
Dec	2	Mary Shelley, The Last Man Figure of the Sibyl Figure of the Queen Mother Figure of Evadne Role of Religion Orientalism and Ethnocentrism