English 3017.03

Winter 2006 (CRN 29778)

Poetry and Prose: 1660-1740

MW, 14:35- 15:25 McCain 1198

David McNeil (dmcneil@dal.ca)
FASS Building, 6135 University, 3193 (494-3508)

Office Hours: W, 9:00-11:00, R, 13:00 - 15:00 (call 494-3383 for an appointment)

Description:

From the heroic couplet of Dryden to the feminist tracts of Astell, this class explores the diverse poetry and prose of the period 1660 to 1740. A variety of theoretical approaches are considered (e.g., interdisciplinarity, genre/gender categories, performance theory) with a view to challenging generalizations about the so-called "Age of Reason," which saw almost constant warfare between European nations, cheering mobs at public executions in London, the first great stock market crash, and visitors paying a penny to tease the incarcerated in Bedlam.

Journals, letters, and essays are considered, along with the more traditional poetic and prose forms. Students have ample opportunity to study examples of biting satire, neo- classical structure and touching sensibility. Dichotomies abound: social decorum versus bawdy exuberance, the public versus the private, symmetrical artifice versus natural spontaneity. Other subjects covered in this class are the rise of the woman writer, the popular press and the bourgeois reader. We will tract relevant developments in aesthetic, philosophical and political thought, as well as parallel movements in the visual arts, music and architecture.

Policies:

- Students will be required to do one oral presentation on an assigned topic/text.

- The class will utilize WebCT to access electronic resources, facilitate class presentations and exchange information.

- Evaluation will be based on a mid-term (Feb. 15), term paper, various exercises (including presentations) and a final exam.

- Essays must have a critical context (minimum 3 secondary sources). Make sure to browse the information on the Dalhousie Libraries homepage regarding SEARCHES for books, journals, and electronic resources. You may also want to complete an Information Literacy Tutorial, available online.

- All written work will have to be submitted to TurnITIN.com <http://plagiarism.dal.ca/turnitin/index.html>. (Our class ID is "1431548" and the password "pepys".) You need to register with your complete e-mail address and a password you select.

- Late essays will be penalized one grade level (e.g., B to B-) for each day an assignment or essay is overdue.

- Students with permanent or temporary disabilities who would like to discuss classroom or exam accommodation are asked to see the instructor as soon as possible.

Text(s):

- British Literature: 1640-1789. Ed. Robert Demaria. Blackwell.

- Other texts may be added or downloaded as the need arises.

Evaluation:

Class Participation 10%

Presentation 10%

Mid-Term (Feb. 15) 20%

Essay Proposal (Mar. 8)

Essay, 8-10 pages (Mar. 27) 30%

Final Exam (Apr. 10-26) 30%

Tentative Schedule (check WebCt for updates):

Jan. 4 Introduction: Class Outline, Method of Evaluation, WebCt, Assignments

Historical Background

" 9 Samuel Pepys, Diary selections 217-24

" 11 John Dryden, "To Mr. Oldham," 204;

"To Mrs. Anne Killigrew," 204-209

" 16 John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, 181-203

" 18 Aphra Behn, "A Copy of Verses Made in a Dream," 233-34;

"To My Lady Morland at Tunbridge," 234-35

"The Disappointment," 236-39

" 23 Aphra Behn, "An Ode to Love," 240-41;

"To the Fair Clarinda," 242-43;

"Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child," 243

" 25 Jane Barker, poems, 299-300;

Anne Wharton, poems, 301-302

Daniel Defoe, "An Academy for Women," 303-308

Jan. 30 Anne Finch, "The Introduction," 335-36;

"The Unequal Fetters," 343;

"The Answer," 343-44;

"The Spleen," 344-47

Feb. 1 Delarivière Manley, Secret Memoirs, selections 348-58

" 6 Mary Astell, Serious Proposal, selection 365-67;

Sarah Egerton, "The Power of Love," 438-39;

"The Emulation," 439

" 8 Jonathan Swift, "A Modest Proposal," 425-29

" 13 Jonathan Swift, "A Beautiful Young Nymph Going to Bed," 433-35;

"A Description of a City Shower," 435-37;

"Stella's Birth-Day," 437

" 15 Mid-Term Test (in class)

" 20-24 STUDY BREAK

" 27 Joseph Addison & Richard Steele, The Spectator, selections 501-508

" 29 John Gay, Trivia, selection 513-22

Mar. 6 Mary Barber, 599-601;

Mary Molesworth Monck, "Verses Written on her Deathbed ..." 511-12;

Trials at the Old Bailey, selection, 617-23

" 8 Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, 530-49

" 13 Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, 530-49;

"Letter to Lady Mary Montagu" 585-86

" 15 Lady Mary Montagu, Letters, selection 587-94

" 20 Lady Mary Montagu, "The Reasons that Induced Dr. S____ to Write ..." 596-98

" 22 Eliza Haywood, Fantomina 602-16

" 27 Stephen Duck, "The Thresher's Labour," selection 634-35;

Mary Collier, "The Woman's Labour," 726-31

" 29 James Thomson, "Winter," 624-33

Apr. 3 Conclusions (history, aesthetics, philosophy, music)

" 5 Review

" 10-26 EXAM PERIOD (you must be available to write the Final)

Objectives:

To gain a better appreciation of the poetics and prose style of the early Augustan period, to learn more about the general cultural history of the Restoration and early eighteenth century, to develop skill in written and verbal communication, literary analysis, research and creative expression, and finally and always, to enjoy literature.