Engl. 434: Seventeenth-Century Literature

Baker's Home Page | 434 Requirements | 434 Syllabus | Course Descriptions and Syllabi

And new philosophy calls all in doubt,

The element of fire is quite put out;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

'Tis all in pieces, all coherence gone;

All just supply, and all relation:

Prince, subject, father, son, are things forgot [. ...]

John Donne, "The Anatomy of the World: The First Anniversary" (1611)

Instructor's Information:

Professor Moira P. Baker

406 Young Hall

831-5352 (Office)

731-4104 (Home)

mpbaker@runet.edu

Office Hours: TR--2:00-4:00;

W--5:30-6:30 and by appointment

Course Objectives, Policies and Required Texts

Some of the most exciting innovations in literary scholarship have developed in the field of English Renaissance Studies, or Early Modern Studies as some contemporary scholars prefer to call it. This course draws upon the latest developments in early modern scholarship to examine the poetry, prose, and drama of seventeenth-century England. We will study the literature of early modern England in view of the historical, social, political, and discursive contexts which shaped the culture of that complex and turbulent age of revolution. One of its luminaries, John Donne, lamented that his world was "all in peeces, all coherence gone." To appreciate the forces that shaped early modern literature, we will examine some of the philosophical, social, political, and economic changes which jarred the minds and imaginations of Donne and his contemporaries, creating the sense that the fixed verities of the past were, indeed, called "in doubt." To ground our study of literature theoretically, we will examine various scholarly texts representing some important contemporary critical perspectives, particularly the new historicism and cultural materialism, which are redefining how we study early modern literature.

Policies

 Class Attendance and Participation

Regular attendance and thoughtful participation in class discussion are essential not only to your individual performance, but also to the success of this course. Our work together relies on collaboration in every phase of the course so that we might form an intellectual community whose insights and power surpass those of any one of us working on our own. We are all subjects who share the responsibilities of teaching and learning in this class. Each of us has a responsibility to the group and to the learning that goes on in class.

Therefore, more than 3 absences will affect the final grade adversely; more than 7 absences will unconditionally result in automatic failure of the course. I do not make distinctions between excused and unexcused absences; therefore, use your absences wisely, saving them for occasions when you cannot come to class for legitimate reasons.

 Due Dates: Late Work, Drafts of Scholarly Essay and Focus Questions

I do not accept late work unless you have requested an extension prior to the due date. Both MLA projects and the scholarly essay must be submitted by the due dates. If sickness or an emergency makes it impossible for you to meet a deadline, you must request an extension prior to the due date. I may grant an extension provided you have a legitimate reason. You can contact me via e-mail or phone.

The first draft of the scholarly essay must also be ready for writing workshop on the assigned date and must be submitted on that date. A late or missing first draft will lower the final grade on the scholarly essay by one letter grade.

If, because of illness, you cannot attend class on a day when a set of focus questions is due, I will accept your questions on the day you attend class, but no later.

 Academic Honesty

The University Affairs Council has asked all faculty to include the following statement in our course policies:

"By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. Please refer to your Student Handbook for details."

Plagiarism, including the use of work submitted to another course without the consent of both instructors, the use of work by another person, or the use of someone else's words, ideas, or arrangement of argument without giving proper reference to the author, is a serious violation of the Honor Code. Please see the section on plagiarism in your Student Handbook. Be especially careful, as you complete your scholarly essay, that you do not use the ideas of other critics without giving them credit even if you do not use direct quotations. You must give credit to another writer when you paraphrase his or her ideas. This applies to all sources you find on the Worldwide Web and all electronic sources in the library, such as Infotrac and electronic bibliographies or indexes that provide abstracts of articles or complete articles.

 Required Texts

Lanyer, Aemilia. The Poems of Aemilia Lanyer. Ed. Susanne Woods New York: Oxford, 1993.

The Longman Anthology of British Literature: The Early Modern Period. Ed. Constance Jordan and Clare

Carroll. New York: Longman, 1999.

Readings for English 434. Ed. Moira P. Baker.

The last text is available on reserve in the library. It is also available at Bartleby's (across Tyler Ave. from the university, near 7-11). It can be Xeroxed for 6 cents a page at Bartleby's. Since these are required readings that you will write about, I urge you to buy your own copy.

Baker's Home Page | 434 Requirements | 434 syllabus | Course Descriptions and Syllabi