Course description:

This is a survey course covering the English literary tradition from the sixteenth through the eighteenth century. Given the scope and nature of the course, students must gear up for the considerable amount of reading assignments, with or without the instructor’s guidance. Students have to preview the weekly materials and report on related period introductions, headnotes and the study questions on the selected texts. The spring semester begins with Shakespeare’s, covers the seventeenth-century literature, featuring the so-called “metaphysical poets” and Milton, and then moves on to the Restoration and the eighteenth century. Though time allows only cursory and selective readings of texts under consideration, we will still try to conduct guided readings and in-depth analyses of representative texts. Whenever possible, students are also required to engage in group discussions on assigned topics.

Objectives:
This course aims to build up students’ (1) knowledge of English literature as a polysystem, its scope and range, and its development and evolution; (2) familiarity with the representative writers/texts of different periods, the issues involved and their respective contexts; and (3) analytical/interpretive vigor when dealing with such heavily-coded texts as the selected literary pieces.

Course requirements:
Previews, active participation in group discussion and presentation

Grading:
Class participation 20%; mid-term exam 40%; final exam 40%

Course outline: to be provided at the first meeting