This course covers British literature and culture from the period 1785-1840, usually titled the Romantic period. Some of Britain’s most popular poets are Romantics: Wordsworth, Byron, Coleridge and Keats. The period is also a rich one for the novel, seeing both such Gothic masterpieces as Frankenstein, the invention of the historical novel by Maria Edgeworth and Walter Scott, and the social comedies of Jane Austen. Major concerns in the literature and culture of this period are: the relationship between man and nature; art and society; sensibility and civility; poetry as politics; the social status of women; the outsider (whether monster, lunatic, criminal, child or rebel); theories of the imagination; and poetic experimentation. Poetic genres that will be discussed are lyric, ballad, ode and sonnet, as well as fictional genres such as the gothic novel and the novel of manners.
Rooster
The timetable will be available from June 1st on the internet.
Onderwijsvorm
Two-hour tutorial per week.
A la carte- en contractonderwijs
More information for students who are interested in taking this course as a Contract student (with exam).
This class is not available as A la carte course.
Leerdoelen
This course will extend and deepen the power of students’ literary critical analysis through in-depth consideration of texts. Students will explore critical debates central to the literature of the ‘Romantic’ period. The course will also aim to extend the students’ skills in the reading of narrative and the understanding of the relationship of a text to its cultural/social context. Students will be encouraged to share analytical and critical views on the texts ascribed in class discussion, including, where needed, short presentations, and will focus research skills in the writing of a final essay. This essay will be on a relevant subject of their own choice within the parameters of the course, and will further extend the students’ critical skills and their ability to produce good, clear writing. A final exam will test students’ knowledge of the literature of the period, and give them an opportunity to display their insight, their familiarity with the texts, and the range of their critical ideas.
Literatuur
M.H. Abrams (gen. ed.), The Norton Anthology of English Literature, either Volume 2, 8th edition, 2006, or Volume D, 8th edition, 2006.
William Godwin, Caleb Williams (ed. David McCracken) (Oxford World\‘s Classics)
Mary Wollstonecraft, Letters Written during a Short Residence in Sweden, Norway and Denmark
William Godwin, Memoirs of the Author of “The Rights of Woman“. (ed. Richard Holmes) (Penguin Classics).
Jane Austen, Emma (Penguin Classics)
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (ed. Maurice Hindle) (Penguin Classics).
Thomas Love Peacock, Nightmare Abbey/Crotchet Castle (Penguin Classics).
James Hogg, Confessions of a Justified Sinner (ed. John Carey) (Oxford World\‘s Classics).
Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist (ed. Philip Horne) (Penguin Classics).
Toetsing
One Essay of 1200 words (25%): The essay deadline is the Wednesday of the last week of term, December 2008 (week fourteen). This is a nonnegotiable deadline. Essays that have not been handed in by the above date will not be accepted for this term and must be handed in during the August re-sit period on the day of the Lit 3B re-sit exam. The only way to extend the deadline is to contact me personally, ahead of time, to request an extension due to unforeseen circumstances (skiing holidays, student Christmas parties and problems due to other course deadlines etc. do not qualify as excuses).
One Test (75%): The test will be based on insight and will ask you to write informative and critical answers to questions engaging with texts and contexts covered in the tutorials. If you prepare adequately for each class, attend all classes, read all the material carefully and thoughtfully, and revise before the exam, there is no reason why you should fail the test.
Informatie
English Department, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, room 102c. Tel. 071-5272144.
English@let.leidenuniv.nl.
Blackboard/webpagina
No blackboard available.
Overzicht
Week 1: Crises of the 1790s I: William Blake
Week 2: Crises of the 1790s II: William Godwin
Week 3: Crises of the 1790s III: Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin
Week 4: The Egotistical Sublime: William Wordsworth
Week 5: Monsters, Opium Dreams and Dejection: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Week 6: Heroism and Civility I: Jane Austen
Week 7: Unacknowledged Legislators: Perce Bysshe Shelley
Week 8: Monsters II: Mary Shelley
Week 9: Romantic Parody: Thomas Love Peacock
Week 10: A Fine Excess: John Keats
Week 11: Heroism and Civility II: George Gordon, Lord Byron
Week 12: Monsters III: James Hogg
Week 13: Runaways: Charles Dickens