Dr. L. Adam Mekler 
English 201.01
Fall 2024
Office:  Holmes Hall 228
Office Phone: (443) 885-4032
Email@Morgan: adam.mekler@morgan.edu
Secondary Class Homepage: http://l-adam-mekler.com/eng201links.htm
Any revisions to this syllabus will be posted on our class page. Please check the web page regularly for any announcements, especially if you have missed class.

Go To Assignments For:
August/September October November  December 

Required Text:
Greenblatt, et. al., eds. Norton Anthology of English Literature: Shorter 11th Ed., Vol. 1, W. W. Norton, 2024. 2 Vols.

Purpose of the Course:

This course focuses on British literature from its early stages up until the eighteenth century. During this time, there were significant changes in the philosophical, political, and religious views of British subjects, both within the United Kingdom and in its developing colonial interests abroad. For that reason, we will examine a number of important historical events over the course of the semester in order to appreciate one motivating factor behind the texts of the period. Of course, the primary focus will remain the literature itself, which we will discuss in great detail, incorporating consideration not only of historical context, but also biographical and intellectual factors as well.  Unfortunately, given the constraints of the class, we will be unable to examine all of the readings in the collection.  What we will hopefully be able to do is consider the thoughts of a fairly wide range of different writers to get a good understanding of the types of thought and literature produced during the period .

Requirements:
Students are expected to attend every class and are required to bring all necessary readings with them to 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.

All assigned readings must be completed before coming 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.You are expected to arrive prepared to provide thoughtful discussions of  the daily readings, raising insightful questions and responding to questions from the instructor or your classmates as they arise.

Quizzes on the readings will occur regularly.  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.

There will be one (1) brief (800 word minimum) critical response paper,  in addition to one (1) documented research paper (2000 word minimum), using a minimum of six documented secondary sources. You will also take part in a presentation of a minimum thirty minutes to be given during the second part of the course.   There will also be a midterm and a final examination.

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. (See sample MLA Paper )  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.

Finally, students enrolled in this course are encouraged to be active, participating members in the English Society. Dr. Mekler will discuss the benefits and opportunities associated with this organization and will explain what such participation will involve.

American with Disabilities Act

Grading:
Quizzes 10 %
A: 90-100
Class Participation 10 % B: 80-89
Critical Response Paper  10 % C: 70-79
Class Presentation  10 % D: 60-69
Midterm Exam 20 % F: 0-59
Research Paper  20 %
Final Exam 20 %

Reading List (Subject to Subtle Revision):

All page numbers refer to the Norton Anthology of English Literature
Aug 19
Course Introduction 

21 The Middle Ages: 3-29

23
Beowulf : 37-56 (lines 1-661)

26
Beowulf : 56-81 (lines 662-1798)

28
Beowulf : 81-109 (lines 1799-3182)

30
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part One: 247-60
Last Day to Drop Classes with Grade of "W"
Sept 2
Labor Day: No Class

4
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Parts Two and Three: 260-91

6
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part Four: 291-302

9
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
"General Prologue": 302-28 (see also modern translation )

11 "General Prologue," concl.

13
The Sixteenth Century: 396-431

16
Spenser, The Faerie Queene
Book One, Cantos 1-3: 449-75

18
Faerie Queene, (cont.)
 Book One, Cantos 4-10: 475-500

20 Faerie Queene, (concl.)
Book One, Cantos 11-12: 500-14

23
Commonplace Book, 516
Marlowe, "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love": 545
Ralegh, "Nymph's Reply": 546

25
Marlowe, Faustus, Scenes 1-5: 571-91

27
Faustus, Scenes 6-13 and Epilogue: 592-607

30
Critical Response Paper Discussion
(Read Sample Paper )
Oct 2
Shakespeare, 610-14
Othello, Act One, 626-47

4
Othello, Acts Two & Three, 647-82

7
Othello, Acts Four & Five, 682-711

9
Mid-Term Review
Critical Response Paper Due

11 Mid-Term Exam
Last Day to Make Up Quizzes or Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences/Lates for 1st Part of Class

14
Research Paper Discussion
(Read sample paper )

16
Early 17th. C.: 712-45

18
Donne, "Valediction: Forbidding Mourning": 746-49, 759-60
"Batter My Heart, Three-Personed God": 772-73

21 Herrick, 825-26
"Corinna's Gone A-Maying": 827-29
"To the Virgins, To Make Use of Time":  829-30
Marvell, "To His Coy Mistress": 834-36
Research Paper Topic Due

23
Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 1: 864-67, 894-914

25
Paradise Lost, Book 4: 950-66
 Last Day to Drop Classes

28
Paradise Lost, Book 9: 983-1009

30
Paradise Lost, Books 10-12: 1009-26
Nov 1
Paradise Lost, concl.

4
Restoration and 18th. C: 1028-55
** Last Day to Hand in or change Research Paper Topics **
** If your topic has not been accepted, you can not submit a research paper.**

6
Dryden, "Mac Flecknoe" 1056-57, 1082-88

8
Behn, Oroonoko: 1097-99, 1104-25

11 Behn, Oroonoko: 1125-50

13
Swift, Gulliver's Travels, Part 1: 1211-13, 1214-55

15
Gulliver's Travels, Part 4:1255-1302

18
Pope, "Essay on Man": 1342-49

20
Johnson, "Vanity of Human Wishes": 1350-1400

22 Gray: 1467-72
"Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat"
"Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard"

25
Wheatley, 1495-99
"On Being Brought From Africa to America"
"To the Right Honorable William, Earl of Dartmouth"
Last Day for Graduating Seniors to Take Final Exam and Submit Work (Including the Research Paper) for the Class

27
Wellness Day: No Class

29
Thanksgiving Break: No Class
Dec 2
Equiano: 1534-54
Research Paper Due

4
Final Review
Last Day to Make Up Quizzes or Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences/Lates for 2nd Part of Class

9
Final Exam:  Place TBA, Date Subject to Change
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