| Peter W. Graham |
| Clifford A. Cutchins III Professor of English |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0112 |
| office: | 401 Shanks Hall |
| phone: | 540-231-6715 |
| fax: | 540-231-5692 |
| email: | [email protected] |
| Introduction to British Literature | Fall 2002 |
| Course Number: | 2224 |
| CRN: | 92126 |
Course Objectives:
In this course we’ll read, discuss, and write about British literary works of different periods and genres. Pairing related works, we’ll see how themes, styles, vocabularies, and cultural assumptions change—and how they remain constant—from era to era and from author to author.
Requirements and Evaluation:
| 1. Unannounced quizzes plus class participation | 20% |
| 2. Short (2-3 pages) explication | 10% |
| 3. 6-8 page paper centering on two texts | 30% |
| 4. Final exam, including take-home essay question | 40% |
Required Texts:
Beowulf, trans. Seamus Heaney
Frankenstein—Mary Shelley
Hamlet—William Shakespeare (Signet)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead—Tom Stoppard
Don Juan—Lord Byron
High Fidelity—Nick Hornby
Pride and Prejudice—Jane Austen
Bridget Jones’s Diary—Helen Fielding
Calendar of Readings and Assignments (subject to revision):
August 27—Introduction to the class
29—Hamlet, Introductory materials, Act I
September 3—Hamlet, Act II
5—Hamlet, Act III
10—Hamlet, Act IV
11—Hamlet, Act V
17—Rosencrantz and Guldenstern, Acts I-II
18—R & G, Act III. Short paper due.
24—Beowulf, introduction, Grendel episode (to p. 88, line 1250)
26—Beowulf, Grendel’s mother (to p. 149, line 2200)
October 1—Beowulf, dragon (to end.)
3—Frankenstein,chapters, Vol. I (chapters 1-7)
8—Frankenstein, Vol. I (chapters 8-16)
10—Frankenstein, Vol. III (chapters 17-23)
15—Don Juan, Dedication, Canto I
17—Don Juan,Canto II
22—Don Juan, Canto III
24—Don Juan, Canto IV-V
29—Don Juan, Canto VI-VII
31—Don Juan, Canto VIII
November 5—High Fidelity
7—High Fidelity
12—Pride and Prejudice, Vol I
14—P & P, Vol. II
19—P & P, Vol. III
21— P & P (film) Long paper due.
Thanksgiving Break
December 3—Bridget Jones
5—Bridget Jones
10—Summing up
Policies:
The Honor Code is in effect.
Papers are due, typed and double spaced, on the day assigned unless advance arrangements are made. Late papers will be penalized.
Throughout the term there will be 12 unannounced short-answer quizzes based on the assigned readings. These quizzes cannot be made up. Each quiz will be worth a total of 5 points, and up to 5 additional points will be available for class participation. 100 out of the 115 possible points will count as a perfect score for the quiz/participation grade.