ENGL 1260: Introduction to Women's Literature
TR 8:00-9:15 Hellems 241
Scott Hagele
hageles@colorado.edu
Office Hours: M noon-2 & T 9:30-10:30 in 262A Folsom Field (Gate 11)
Required Texts:
Jane Austen - Sense and Sensibility
Joanna Baillie - Plays on the Passions
Aphra Behn - Oroonoko, The Rover and Other Works
Charlotte Dacre - Zofloya
Felicia Hemans - Selected Poems, Prose, and Letters
Eliza Haywood - Fantomina and Other Works
At its simplest level, "women's literature" refers to every poem, play, short story, and
novel written by a female. In this course, we will attempt to expand upon this definition
by considering women's literature from the standpoint of representation--specifically, the
representation of women. In order to help organize our thinking on this topic, I have
structured this course around four pervasive representations: virgins/vixens, woman as
social reformer, woman as artistic genius, and finally the femme fatale. We will read
canonical writers like Aphra Behn, Jane Austen, and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, as well
as recently rediscovered writers like Eliza Haywood and Charlotte Dacre. The overall
goal of this course is to expose you to a wide-range of British women writers in order to
stimulate some exciting thoughts about modern-day representations of women.
Assignments/Grading:
Attendance (5%)
Participation (15%)
Mid-Term Exam (15%)
Final Exam (20%)
CU-Learn Discussions (5%)
Anthology Project (40%)
Attendance & Participation: Due to the fact that we are a fairly small group, your
attendance and participation is vital to the success of this course. My attendance policy
is fairly straightforward—you have three “vacation days” to use at your convenience.
Absences four and onward will count against your attendance grade unless
accompanied with a valid reason (illness, family emergency, nervous breakdown, etc.).
CU-Learn Discussions: You are required to post four CU-Learn comments/responses
over the course of the semester. One posting must be made each month (i.e.
September, October, November, and December). Additional postings may be made to
compensate for below average participation in class.
Students with disabilities: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability,
please submit a letter to me from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your
needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on
documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, or
www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices .
Classroom behavior: Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an
appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to behavioral standards
may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat
students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion, and to
set reasonable limits on the manner in which students express opinions. Professional
courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to differences of race,
culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, and nationalities. See
www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and
www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code.
Honor Code: All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for
knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of
this policy may include cheating, plagiarism, academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying,
bribery, and threatening behavior. I will report all incidents of academic misconduct to
the Honor Code Council. Students who are found to be in violation of the academic
integrity policy will be subject to both academic and non-academic sanctions (including
but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). See
www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and
http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/.
Discrimination and sexual harassment: The University of Colorado policy on Sexual
Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all
students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff member, or faculty member who believes
s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color,
national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should
contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment at 303-492-2127 or the Office of
Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. For information and campus resources see
www.colorado.edu/odh.
Administrative Drops: Nonattendance of this course does not guarantee that you will
be administratively dropped. It is your responsibility to manage your course schedules.
E-Reserves: An "(E)" indicates that the selected readings can be accessed via EReserves at: http://libraries.colorado.edu/search/p
August
28 - Sandra M. Gilbert & Susan Gubar, from The Madwoman in the Attic (E) & Simone
de Beauvoir, from The Second Sex (E)
September
2 - Aphra Behn, The Rover Act I
4 - Aphra Behn, The Rover Acts II-III
9 - Aphra Behn, The Rover Acts IV-V
11 - Aphra Behn, The Fair Jilt & "Love Letters to a Gentleman"
16 - Eliza Haywood, Fantomina
18 - Eliza Haywood, “Reflections on the Various Effects of Love” (E)
23 - Mary Wollstonecraft, from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (E)
25 - Anna Letitia Barbauld, “Eighteen Hundred and Eleven, A Poem” (E), “The Mouse’s
Petition” (E), “The Rights of Women” (E)
30 - Joanna Baillie, The Tryal Acts I-III
October
2 - Joanna Baillie, The Tryal Acts IV-V
7 - Visit to Norlin Library Special Collections
9 - MID-TERM EXAM!!!
14 - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility V1C1-V1C14 (pp. 3-57)
16 - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility Finish Volume I (pp.57-102)
21 - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility V2C1-V2C9 (pp.103-158)
23 - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility Finish Volume II (pp.158-191)
28 - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility V3C1-V3C7 (pp.194-239)
30 - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility Finish Volume III (pp. 239-289)
November
4 - Charlotte Smith, from Elegiac Sonnets (E), “The Truant Dove of Pilpay” (E)
6 - Mary Robinson, from Memoirs of the Late Mrs. Robinson, Written by Herself (E)
11 - Felicia Hemans, "Evening Prayer at a Girl's School," "Arabella Stuart," "Properzia
Rossi," "The Grave of a Poetess," "The Image in Lava," "The Diver"
13 - Felicia Hemans, "Corinne at the Capitol;" Letitia Elizabeth Landon, "Corinne at the
Cape of Misena" (E); & Germaine de Staël, from Corinne (E)
18 - Elizabeth Barrett Browning, from Aurora Leigh (E)
20 - Christina Rossetti, "Goblin Market" (E)
December
2 - Charlotte Dacre, Zofloya Volume I
4 - Charlotte Dacre, Zofloya Volume II
9 - Charlotte Dacre, Zofloya Volume III
11 - Final Exam Review