1
English Literature II
Fall, 2011
Instructor: Patrice Yang
Office: LC306
E-mail: flcg1044@mail.fju.edu.tw
Textbook: Norton Anthology of English Literature II
Course Description: In the 2nd semester of this survey course, a variety of
Victorian texts are included to show the complexity of the age. The topics
involved are art and literature and also some Victorian issues critical for both the
Victorians and modern readers.
Tentative syllabus
Week
Date
Course Content
1
2/14
Victorian poetry: major poet
Tennyson: “Mariana” (1112), “The Lady of Shalott” (1114)
2
2/21
Alfred Tennyson: “The Lotos-Eaters” (1119), “Ulysses” (1125)
3
2/28
Holiday
4
3/6
Elizabeth Browning: “The Cry of the Children” (1079), sonnets from the
Portuguese (1084), “The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim’s Point” (1085)
Oral report: Elizabeth Browning (1)
5
3/13
Robert Browning: “Porphyria’s Lover” (1252), “My Last Duchess”
(1255), “Andrea del Sarto” (1280)
Oral report: Robert Browning (2)
Journal 1: “Porphyria’s Lover” or “Andrea del Sarto”
6
3/20
Arnold: “The Buried Life (1356), “Dover Beach” (1368),
from Culture and Anarchy : *Sweetness and Light *Doing As One Likes
(1398)
Oral report: Matthew Arnold (3)
7
3/27
The Pre-Raphaelites
D. G. Rossetti: “The Girlhood of Mary Virgin” (handout on iCAN), “The
Blessed Damozel” (1443), “Jenny” (1449)
Oral report: D. G. Rossetti (4), Christina Rossetti (5)
8
4/3
Holiday
9
4/10
Midterm written exam.
10
4/17
Christina Rossetti: “In an Artist’s Studio” (1463), “Goblin Market” (1466)
William Morris: “The Defence of Guenevere” (1483)
Oral report: William Morris (6)
Journal 2: “Goblin Market” or “The Defence of Guenevere”
2
11
4/24
Neo-Gothic fiction
Stevenson: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1645)
Oral report: Robert Louis Stevenson (7)
Journal 3: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
12
5/1
Aestheticism
Wilde: The Picture of Dorian Gray (film showing)
Oral report: Aestheticism (8), Oscar Wilde (9)
13
5/8
Pater: Studies in the History of the Renaissance
*Preface (1507) * “La Gioconda” (1510) *Conclusion (1511)
Oral report: The Picture of Dorian Gray (10), Walter Pater (11)
Journal 4: The Picture of Dorian Gray
14
5/15
Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest (1698)
Oral report: The Importance of Being Earnest (12)
15
5/22
Victorian Issues: Industrialism, Gender Debate
Dickens: “A Visit to Newgate” (1239), Hard Times: “Coketown”
Oral report: Charles Dickens (13), Hard Times (14)
16
5/29
Victorian Issues: Empire & National Identity
Oral report: Imperialism (15)
17
6/5
Final wrap-up
18
6/12
Final written exam.
Requirements:
1. Students are expected to be in class on time. 2 latenesses =1 absence
3 absences=failing final grade
2. It is strongly suggested that students preview the reading materials before class to
participate group discussions.
3. Each student needs to write 3 journals. Each journal should include summary and
personal reflection. (Times New Roman 12, 1.5 space, one and a half pages each)
4. Late journals will not be accepted. Plagiarism= 0 point
5. Oral report: Every group will give a 20-minute report on one author or one
selected reading.
Grading policy
Journals & assignments
Oral report
Mid-term exam & Final exam
30%
20%
50%