British Literature I
Updated March 28, 2012
- State Approval Code: 2308015112
- Semester Credit Hours: 3
- Lecture Hours per Week: 3
- Contact Hours per Semester: 48
Basic Intellectual Compentencies in the Core Curriculum
- Critical thinking
- Computer literacy
Perspectives in the Core Curriculum
- Establish broad and multiple perspectives on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which he/she lives, and to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally and ethnically diversified world.
- Stimulate a capacity to discuss and reflect upon individual, political, economic, and social aspects of life in order to understand ways in which to be a responsible member of society.
- Recognize the importance of maintaining health and wellness.
- Develop a capacity to use knowledge of how technology and science affect their lives.
- Develop personal values for ethical behavior.
- Develop the ability to make aesthetic judgments.
- Use logical reasoning in problem solving.
- Integrate knowledge and understand the interrelationships of the scholarly disciplines.
Core Components and Related Exemplary Educational Objectives
Communication (composition, speech, modern language)
- To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.
- To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communications choices.
- To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e. descriptive, expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive, in written, visual, and oral communication.
- To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding.
- To understand and apply basic principles of proficiency in the development of exposition and argument.
- To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or to give an oral presentation.
Humanities and Visual and Performing Arts
- To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
- To understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.
- To respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
- To engage in the creative process or interpretive performance and comprehend the physical and intellectual demands required of the author or visual or performing artist.
- To articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.
- To develop an appreciation for the aesthetic principles that guide or govern the humanities and arts.
- To demonstrate knowledge of the influence of literature, philosophy, and/or the arts on intercultural experiences.
Instructional Goals and Purposes
Panola College's instructional goals include 1) creating an academic atmosphere in which students may develop their intellects and skills and 2) providing courses so students may receive a certificate/an associate degree or transfer to a senior institution that offers baccalaureate degrees.
General Course Objectives
1. To increase the student’s appreciation and understanding of English literature
from its beginnings through the eighteenth century.
Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate the ability to:
a. Read literary selections from various genres of English literature from its beginnings through the eighteenth century and react intellectually, emotionally, and aesthetically to their content both orally and in writing.
b. Listen to class lectures and participate in class discussions of literary works and literary topics and react knowledgeably.
c. Comprehend the importance of literary works from this period in their historical, social, and political contexts.
d. Connect the aesthetic, emotional, and intellectual values of literary works to his/her life experiences.
e. Understand and employ the meanings of basic literary terms in discussions and oral presentations over literary topics.
2. Upon completion of this course, the student will demonstrate the ability to:
a. Develop unified, organized, coherent essays on literary topics.
b. Adhere to the requirements of standard written English, including appropriate sentence structure, length, and variety; punctuation; spelling; usage; and other requirements deemed necessary by the instructor.
Specific Course Objectives
I. Unit I: The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to identify and describe: 1. The characteristics of early Anglo-Saxon society and the significance of the folk epic in Anglo-Saxon culture and language development. 2. The characteristics of the medieval romance and the importance of the romance in the Middle Ages. 3. The characteristics of medieval Christianity and social structure. 4. The elements of a medieval mystery play and/or medieval morality play. 5. The elements of popular medieval ballads. II. Unit II: The Sixteenth Century Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to identify and describe:
1. Major authors of sixteenth century England and their importance to the period.
2. Major historical, cultural, and literary developments in the English Renaissance, especially those that have a direct impact on major literary figures of the era.
3. Elements of humanism in the works of authors of the English Renaissance.
4. Characteristics of the pastoral song and its importance as a Renaissance literary form.
5. Elements of Elizabethan drama.
6. Elements of the Elizabethan sonnet.
III. Unit III: The Early Seventeenth Century Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to identify and describe: 1. Major authors of early seventeenth century England and their importance to the period. 2. Major historical, religious, cultural, and literary developments of early seventeenth century England, especially those that affect major literary figures of the era. 3. The elements of metaphysical poetry. 4. The elements of Cavalier poetry. 5. The literary and historical importance of the diary in the seventeenth century. 6. The elements of the art epic and the combination of classical and Christian in Milton’s Paradise Lost. Unit IV. The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to identify and describe:
1. Major British authors of the restoration and the eighteenth century and their importance to the period.
2. Major historical, cultural, and literary developments in restoration and eighteenth
century England, especially those that concern major literary figures of the era.
3. Elements of eighteenth century satire, literary criticism, and “occasional” poetry.
4. The elements of Christian narrative in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
5. The content and characteristics of a mock epic.
6. Authors of the eighteenth century periodical essay and its significance as a literary
General Description of Each Lecture or Discussion
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery
The course grade is determined as follows:
Essays and Daily Work 30-40%