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Major British Writers (English 251-002, 0805 MWF)
Dr. Brian Blackley
G105B Tompkins: 5-0494; 10-11 MWF, 12:15 – 1:30 MW and by appt; blackley@ncsu.edu)
Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Major Authors 9th Ed., eds. Greenblatt, et al.
ISBN-13: 978-0393919639 (one volume) 978-0393919660 (two), available for $58 new and $42
used on Amazon.com
English 251 surveys a select group of British authors from the Middle Ages to the modern period,
emphasizing the more influential prose and verse with close attention to theme, style, and genre. In-class discussion
will afford students the opportunity to test their readings of the texts considered with a minimum of risk. Tests and
papers will demand expansion of those ideas into careful analysis using textual evidence.
This course fulfills a GEP requirement for Humanities - Literature
Objectives: Each course within the literature requirement of the General Education Requirements in the Humanities
provides instruction and guidance that help students to: 1. Understand and engage in the human experience through
the interpretation of literature; and 2. Become aware of the act of interpretation itself as a critical form of knowing in
the study of literature; and 3. Make scholarly arguments about literature using reasons and ways of supporting those
reasons that are appropriate to the field of study.
By the end of this course, students will be able to 1. Compose an essay explaining the significance and
meaning of passages, characters, and/or concepts demonstrated in two different texts, 2. Identify and analyze
characters, ideas, and predominant themes within the works considered, 3. Recognize literary quotations by text,
speaker, and context, and 4) interpret those quotations in their own words.
SCHEDULE: The biographical entry heading each author’s works is also required reading. Like many syllabi, this
list is subject to change on short notice.
Jan 9-12
Jan 14- 21
Jan 23-26
Jan 28-Feb 6
Feb 9
Feb 11-20
Geoffrey Chaucer: From The Canterbury Tales: "The General Prologue,"
"The Miller's Tale," "The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale"
William Shakespeare: From Sonnets: 12, 18, 29, 55, 73, 116, 129, 144.
Othello
Test #1
John Donne: "The Flea," "The Good-Morrow," "The Sun Rising," "The Canonization,"
"A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning," "Elegy 19. To His Mistress Going to Bed,"
"Satire 3,” From Holy Sonnets: 5, 10, 13, 14, 19. "Meditation 17"
Feb 23-25
John Milton: From Areopagitica, Sonnets (all).
Feb 27-Mar 6 From Paradise Lost: Book I, Book IX.
Mar 9-1 3
Spring Break
Mar 16-18
Jonathan Swift: A Modest Proposal. From Gulliver's Travels: “A Letter from Captain
Gulliver,” “The Publisher to the Reader,”
Mar 20-25
Part 1. “A Voyage to Lilliput,” Part 4. “A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms”
Mar 27
Test #2
Mar 30-Apr 1 John Keats: from Endymion: Book I [“A Thing of Beauty”] "On First Looking into
Chapman’s Homer," "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles," "Sitting Down to Read King Lear,"
"When I have fears that I may cease to be," "Bright star, would I were stedfast . . . .
Apr 6-10
“Ode to a Nightingale,” “Ode on a Grecian Urn,” “Ode on Melancholy.” "The Eve of St.
Agnes," Letters: To Benjamin Bailey (Nov. 22, 1817), To George and Thomas Keats
(Dec. 21, 27[?], 1817)
Apr 13-17
Robert Browning: "Porphyria's Lover," "Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister," "My Last
Duchess," "Fra Lippo Lippi."
Apr 20
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Sonnets from the Portuguese
Apr 22-24
Virginia Woolf: “A Room of One’s Own,” “The Mark on the Wall”
Tests: Coursework will include three tests, mostly short-answer, typically covering the readings for the previous
weeks and the recent lecture material (since the last test). Tests missed for verified excuses can be made up, but the
ENG 251 Spring 2015
test will be different from the given test so as to not disadvantage other students. There will also be occasional
reading quizzes or short homework assignments. Students who are submit at least six homework assignments or
quizzes will have their lowest grade dropped. I reserve the right to make these unannounced or “pop” quizzes.
Quizzes missed for unexcused absences cannot be made up. The final exam will be given according to the posted
university exam schedule. The final exam will be comprehensive.
Papers: Paper topics will be assigned; papers not conforming to the assignment will not be accepted. The paper
will require students to compare literary works by choosing one of two approaches:
1. Select a character in The Canterbury Tales and compare her\him to a character in Othello (draft due Feb
16; final due March 20) or
2. Compare sonnets on our reading list by different authors, such as Shakespeare’s #3 and Donne’s #13
(draft due March 6; final due April 6).
The paper will first be submitted as a complete draft, with an introductory paragraph and thesis statement, a body
argument of multiple paragraphs, and a conclusion that reflects the argument and its implications. Students who do
not submit a complete printed draft in class on the due date may receive a penalty of a letter grade for each day the
draft is late. I will examine these carefully, making suggestions and corrections on all aspects of the assignment, and
return them to you. You will then have the opportunity to revise the paper and consult with me before submitting the
final version on the respective date. Both draft and final versions must be submitted together. All papers must be
typed according to MLA format. Further details on papers will be explained fully in class with a handout. There is
a minimum work requirement; all written assignments must be completed regardless of circumstances in order to
pass the class.
Policies:
Attendance: There is a strong correlation in my classes between regular attendance and good grades. Students should
plan their schedules so that they can attend regularly and on time. Three free absences are allowed that require
no excuse. After the third absence, each absence may result in a penalty of two points from the final course
grade, that is, a student with a 91 final semester average and 8 total absences would receive an 81. Being tardy
twice is the equivalent of one absence, and has the same effect on the final grade. I take attendance once at the
beginning of class. If you enter class late, it is in your best interest to let me know at the end of class to change
the absence to a tardy.
Timeliness: All assignments must be submitted or taken on schedule. Make-ups are accepted only in the event of
verified excused absences, such as illness of the student, the death of a family member, or Universitysanctioned travel. I am far more understanding of student difficulties when I receive advance notice. If you
will miss class or not have your work on time, your best bet is to immediately email me an explanation why
before class time. Essays submitted late are subject to a letter-grade penalty per day.
Grades: I use plus/minus grading: A+ = 97-100, A = 93-96, A- = 90-92, B+ =87-89, B =83-86, etc.
Email: I will use Wolfware email to communicate with you, and important notices about assignments may be sent to
you via email. That means failure to list the email address with the university that you use regularly, or failing
to check your email daily may mean you could miss correspondence and possibly jeopardize your grade. “I
didn’t get your email” will not be an accepted excuse.
Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take
advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900
Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 919-515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on
working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with
Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.01)
Privacy: Students may be required to disclose personally identifiable information to other students in the course, via
electronic tools like email or web-postings, where relevant to the course. Examples include online discussions
of class topics, and posting of student coursework. All students are expected to respect the privacy of each
other by not sharing or using such information outside the course.
ENG 251 Spring 2015
Electronic Devices: Laptops, tablets, smart phones, etc., have proven to be more of a distracting liability to the
academic performance of my students in class than an asset. Therefore I do NOT allow, as a policy, any
electronic devices to be used during class. However, if you feel strongly that you should have the freedom to
use such a device during class lecture, you may write a (max.) 250-word argument for its academic purpose in
the classroom to submit to me no later than Friday, August 29. If I find your argument compelling I will grant
specific, conditional permission according to your argument.
Courtesy: Most of the issues itemized above relate to courtesy to others. Attending, doing so on time,
accommodating others, respecting their privacy, can all be understood as an extension of civil courtesies that
make the classroom a pleasant environment. At the heart of all courtesies is a desire to not be offensive to
others, maintaining respect for oneself and others. Therefore we will not eat in the classroom unless there is
enough to share with everyone. Good strong coffee, however, is the nectar of the gods, and is always welcome,
as well as any other beverage you may prefer. Nor is it acceptable to disrupt class lectures with personal
matters that can be taken care of before and after class. In the case of frequent violations of courtesy, I may
mark a student absent.
Academic Integrity: The penalty for plagiarism or cheating is a failing grade and possibly more severe punishment
by University administrators. You are responsible for knowing what plagiarism is and accountable for
violations of academic integrity however, anytime you have questions about incorporating sources into your
work, please ask me. See also
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/student_services/student_discipline/POL11.35.1.php By your signature or typed
name on each graded effort, I will assume your compliance with the university Honor Pledge: "I have neither
given nor received unauthorized aid on this test or assignment."
Other: Students are responsible for reviewing the NC State University PRR’s located at http://oucc.ncsu.edu/courserights-and-responsibilities which pertains to their course rights and responsibilities.
Test 1
Paper Draft
Test 2
Paper Final Version
Quizzes/Homework
Final Exam
20%
Penalty if late
20%
20%
15%
25%
Feb 9
Feb 16 or March 6
Mar 27
March 20 or Apr 6
various
Wednesday, May 6, 8:00
Class Evaluations: Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last 2 weeks of
the semester then become unavailable at 8am on the first day of finals for the full fall semester: 8am April 14th,
2015 through 8 am April 29th, 2015
Students will receive an email message directing them to a website where they can login using their Unity ID and
complete evaluations. All evaluations are confidential; instructors will not know how any one student responded to
any question, and students will not know the ratings for any instructors.
Evaluation website: http://go.ncsu.edu/cesurvey
Student help desk: classeval@ncsu.eduThis link will open in a new window
More information about ClassEval: http://oirp.ncsu.edu/eval/clev