English 345—Victorian Literature
This course provides a survey of Victorian Literature. Readings have been selected with an eye to representing the major genres, styles, and cultural/historical concerns of the period. Issues to be explored include: forms of narration; the role of women, particularly in regards to empire-building; industrialization, urbanization, and class conflict; money, value, and exchange; and Victorian attitudes toward pop culture, a culture that thrived on scandal and sensation. We will ask how Victorian literature constructs England and what it means to be English. And we will also explore the effects of different narrative styles. Course objectives include: 1) the study of Victorian literature within a historical and cultural context and 2) the development of close reading, critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
Student Learning Goals
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
· Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature
· Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts
· Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing
· Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted
· Courses will be broad and foundational in nature; they will not assume extensive previous knowledge
· Courses will satisfy most (if not all) of these guidelines
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins
King Solomon’s Mines, H. Rider Haggard
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
Various shorter readings
Students are expected to own and use a grammar handbook.
1-page, single-spaced papers
Group Presentation w/1-page write-up
Participation, quizzes, and in-class writing
The format of the class will be a mixture of lecture, discussion, and group work with an emphasis on student discussion. Students must come to class having completed the assigned readings and prepared to actively participate. Please read through the following class policies carefully:
· Attendance is mandatory. Students absent for more than 2 classes for any reason may be dropped or have their grade lowered at the instructor’s discretion.
· Late papers will not be accepted unless prior permission from the instructor has been given. Prior permission is granted at the instructor’s discretion.
· Tardiness is unacceptable and will negatively effect your standing in class as well as your final grade.
· All assignments are mandatory. In order to pass this course, you must complete all of the assignments.
· Students and teachers are expected to treat each other with respect and courtesy in the classroom.
· Academic honesty is expected. Students are expected to adhere to the University Academic Honor Policy.
Tuesday 8/20: Logistics.
Thursday 8/22: Introductions.
Tuesday 8/27: Oliver Twist: Ch. 1-15
Thursday 8/29: Oliver Twist: Ch. 16-37
Tuesday 9/3: Oliver Twist: Ch. 38-end.
Thursday 9/5: Oliver Twist
Tuesday 9/10: Jane Eyre: Vol. 1
Paper #1 Due
Thursday 9/12: Jane Eyre: Vol. 2
Tuesday 9/24: Tennyson: “The Lady of Shallot”
Thursday 9/26: Browning: “Andrea del Sarto”
Tuesday 10/1: The Woman in White: The First Epoch
Paper #2 Due
Thursday 10/3: The Woman in White: The Second Epoch
Tuesday 10/8: The Woman in White: The Third Epoch
Thursday 10/10: The Woman in White
Tuesday 10/15: No class. Fall break.
Thursday 10/17: Gaskell: “Libby Marsh’s Three Eras”
Tuesday 10/22: Rossetti, Christina: “Goblin Market”
Paper #3 Due
Thursday 10/24: Rossetti, Dante: “Blessed Damozel”
Tuesday 10/29: King Solomon’s Mines: Ch. 1-7
Thursday 10/31: King Solomon’s Mines: Ch. 8-14
Tuesday 11/5: King Solomon’s Mines: Ch. 15-end
Thursday 11/7: King Solomon’s Mines
Tuesday 11/12: The Picture of Dorian Gray: “Preface”-Ch. 7
Paper #4 Due
Thursday 11/14: The Picture of Dorian Gray: Ch. 8-14
Tuesday 11/19: The Picture of Dorian Gray: Ch. 15-end
Thursday 11/21: The Picture of Dorian Gray
Tuesday 11/26: No class. Thanksgiving.
Thursday 11/28: No class. Thanksgiving.
Tuesday 12/3: tba
Thursday 12/5: tba
Paper #5 Due
Final Exam: Due in my mailbox by the start of the scheduled final exam.