Lit6-260 Survey of English Literature I
Course Syllabus
30 Sept. The Middle Ages: Feudal society; love and marriage; the role of the church. View video by
Johanna Alemann*. Read: Introduction to the Middle Ages in Norton Anthology, 9th ed (esp. the
section on Medieval English).
7 Oct. Courtly love: Tomas of England, Le Roman de Tristran; Marie de France, “Chevrefoil”;
Capellanus, The Art of Courtly Love** (pp. 28-36 & 184-186)
14 Oct. Chaucer, “The Franklin’s Tale” (in Norton, 6th ed, & in e-class).
21 Oct. The Early Modern Age: Renaissance Humanism, Protestant Reformation, Tudor monarchy
political absolutism, social change, literature & drama. Read: Introduction to the 16 th Century in
Norton Anthology, 9th edition; Castiglione’s “Ladder of Love” in his Book of The Courtier; Queen
Elizabeth, “Tilbury speech”; Erasmus, “Woman in childbed.”*** (The first two texts are in the 9 th ed of
Norton; Erasmus’ piece is provided in e-class.)
28 Oct. 28 Oct. National Commemoration Day-No class
31 Oct. (?) The Elizabethan Sonnet: Sidney, Astrophil and Stella (sonnets 71, 72 & 81); Spenser,
Amoretti (sonnets 64 & 65); Shakespeare, Sonnets 116, 130, 138; patrarchism and neo-Platonism.
4 Nov.
Elizabethan Theatre: Romeo and Juliet; view film: Shakespeare in Love.
11 Nov. Romeo and Juliet (con’t)
18 Nov. Romeo and Juliet (con’t)
25 Nov. The Early 17th Century: the shift from female to male monarch, early 17th-century
Navigations & colonial aspirations, humoral psychology, changes in
literary style. Read: Introduction to the Ealy 17th Century in Norton Anthology, 9th ed; Gouge
Of domestical duties; Bacon, “Of Marriage & single Life”; Burton, “Love and Melancholy” in
The Anatomy of Melancholy. [All of these texts are in the 9th ed of Norton Anthology.]
2 Dec. Donne, “The Good Morrow”; Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress”
9 Dec. The Civil War and the Republic. Milton, Paradise Lost (selections from Bks 10 & 12)
16 Dec. Milton, Paradise Lost (con’t);
Dec 23. The Restoration & the 18th Century: political & social changes after the restoration of the
monarchy in 1660. Read: Introduction to the Restoration & the 18 th Century in Norton, 9th ed.; Steele,
“The Spectator’s Club”; Addison, “The Royal Exchange”; Pepys, “The Deb Willet Affair” in his Diary.
(All of these texts are included in the 9th ed of Norton.)
Jan 13. Anne Finch, “Introduction”; Mary Astell, “Some Reflections Upon Marriage”
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*Video by Johanna Alemann, Europe in Transition, available from:
https://archive.org/details/EuropeInTransition
**In John Parry’s translation, has been uploaded in e-class (under documents).
*** Erasmus’ “Woman in childbed” has been uploaded in e-class (under documents)
Recommended films to view:
Shakespeare in Love (1998), dir John Madden
Tristan and Isolde (2006), dir Reynolds, (produced by Ridley Scott)