Oakland University Course Information English 370--Literature of the Restoration and Eighteenth-Century
Fall, 2005
T/Th 8:00 - 9:47, 169 SFH
Department of English
Course Description: We'll spend the semester exploring the literature and culture of the period 1660-1789, with an emphasis upon comic drama and prose narrative. After a brief introduction to the ideas, politics, and mores of early modern England, we'll linger a while to explore what is arguably the high point in the history of English comedy (1660-1700) in the works of Wycherley, Behn and Etherege. In prose fiction, we'll trace the rise of the English novel, along with other prose narratives, through the works Bunyan, Behn, Defoe, Swift, and Equiano. We’ll also pause occasionally to read representative verse by Behn, Rochester, Marvell, Dryden, Swift, and Pope. Heavy reading. Class format will largely be discussion. Students will keep a reading journal and commonplace book, write one paper (7-9 pp.), complete an assignment on reading an issue of The Gentleman’s Magazine, and submit two tests.
Texts: Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy, ed. McMillan (Norton); Moll Flanders, Defoe (Broadview); Gulliver’s Travels, Swift (Signet); The Interesting Narrative and other writings, Equiano (Penguin); Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave, Behn (Bedford); Pilgrim’s Progress, Bunyan (Penguin). Please obtain copies of the editions listed above so that we will all be on the same page; some of these editions contain supplemental readings which will be required. Poetry assignments are available through the live links below.
Policies: Faithful attendance and regular participation in class are expected.
Students with special needs are welcome to discuss them with me. Some services for students with special needs are available through the Office of Special Advising, 144 Oakland Center.
The grade of Incomplete is available only to students who have demonstrated regular and steady progress in the course but for whom unforeseeable and uncontrollable circumstances make impossible the timely completion of the course. Students must petition in writing for a grade of incomplete.
Students suspected of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students and the Senate Committee on Academic Conduct. Cheating on any course assignment may result in failure for the course.
Classroom decorum is everybody’s responsibility. Please arrive on time and plan to stay for the full meeting. Turn your cell phone off for the duration of the class meeting. Work to create a classroom environment in which everybody feels comfortable and unthreatened. In addressing your classmates (or your instructor), in class or on the discussion list, you may argue vigorously, indeed passionately, but please maintain the same respect for others as you wish them to maintain toward you.
Some related links:
Other useful links are lurking in the reading list below.
Assignments: The following simple formula will determine your final grade.
Schedule: If class is canceled due to snow, tornado, professorial delinquency, or other uncontrollable events, please continue to read according
to the dates below. Unless we grow very weary very fast, we will adhere roughly to the following schedule:
September
Th 1 Orientation: What was the Restoration? When was the eighteenth century? Matters logistical, informational, and otherwise. Multimedia extravaganza.
T 6 Rochester, A Satyr against Reason and Mankind" and "The Imperfect Enjoyment" (WARNIING: ADULT CONTENT!).
(Click here for more information about John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester.)
Aphra Behn, “The Disappointment”: Rated R
William Wycherley, The Country Wife, Acts 1-2 (R&18thCC)
Sign onto the email discussion list. Point your browser at http://lists.oakland.edu/mailman/listinfo/britlit.
Th 8 Country Wife, Acts 3-5
Hobbes, "Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning their Felicity and Misery," chapter 13 of Leviathan
Hobbes, "On Laughter," "On Wit," and "On Power," in R&18thCC 457-465)
Avery & Scouten, "The Theatrical World, 1660-1700" in R&18thCC 535-541
Powell, "Visual Rhythm in The Country Wife" R&18thCC 582-592
T 13 William Etherege, The Man of Mode, Acts 1-3 (R&18thCC)
Th 15 Man of Mode, Acts 4-5
Avery & Scouten, "The Audience" R&18thCC 549-557
Dennis, "A Defense of Sir Fopling Flutter" (R&18thCC 525-529)
T 20 Behn, The Rover, Acts 1-3 (R&18thCC)
Howe, "The Arrival of the Actress," R&18thCC 541-548
Collier, from A Short View of the English Stage R&18thCC493-506
Dennis, from The Usefulness of the Stage R&18thCC 506-512
Journals and commonplace books will be collected.
Recommended: Mary Astell, Some Reflections upon Marriage
Some Aphra Behn links:
Th 22 Behn, The Rover, Acts 4-5
Collier, from A Short View of the English Stage (R&18thCC 493-506)
Dennis, from The Usefulness of the Stage (R&18thCC 506-512)
*Journals and commonplace books will be collected.
T 27 Gallagher, “Introduction: Cultural and Historical Background,” Oroonoko 3-13
Behn, Oroonoko, 34-85
Behn, “The Golden Age,” Oroonoko 147-153
Mandeville, “Dialogue between the Pagan and the Christian,” Oroonoko 166-68
Montaigne, “On Cannibals,” Oroonoko 168-175
Warren, from An Impartial Description of Surinam, Oroonoko 351-355
Ligon, from A True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados, Oroonoko 355-365
Summary information about theories of the origins of the English novel may be found at the following links:
Th 29 Oroonoko 85-100
Godwyn, from The Negro’s and Indians Advocate, Oroonoko 365-368
Tryon, from A . . . Dialogue between and Ethiopean or Negro-Slave and a Christian, Oroonoko
Littleton, from The Groans of the Plantations, Oronooko 375-377
Stedman, from Narrative of a Five Years Expedition against the Revolted Negroes of Surinam, Oroonoko 377-390
4:00 PM, Maurice Brown Memorial Poetry Reading, Wendy Barker, Varner Recital Hall
October
T 4 *Test 1 is due.
Th 6 Marvell, “Upon Appleton House” and “To His Coy Mistress”
Dryden, Religio Laici
Sharrock, “Introduction” to Pilgrim’s Progress, vii-xxii
Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, 3-66
Recommended: Ian McKillop’s lecture on “Upon Appleton House”
T 11 PP, 66-141
Th 13 Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders, 35-116
from Conjugal Lewdness, in MF, 377-383
“Moll Cutpurse,” from The Newgate Calendar
T 18 MF, 116-191
Gentleman’s Magazine assignment is due.
Th 20 MF, 191-275
from Hell upon Earth, in MF 391-402
“Of Transportation,” in MF 415-16
*Journals and commonplace books will be collected.
T 25 MF 275-334
Prospectus for term paper is due.
Th 27 Swift, “The Lady’s Dressing Room”
“A Beautiful Young Nymph Going to Bed”
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, “The Reasons that induc’d Dr. Swift to write A Lady’s Dressing Room”
Swift, Gulliver’s Travels Book 1
November
T 1 Gulliver’s Travels, Book 2
Bibliography for term paper is due.
Th 3 Gulliver’s Travels, Book 3
Last day for official withdrawal from class
T 8 Gulliver’s Travels, Book 4
Pope, Essay on Man, Epistles 1 & 2
Th 10 Olaudau Equiano, Interesting Narrative, introduction, ix-xxx; chs. 1-4 (31-94)
*Draft of term paper is due.
T 15 Interesting Narrative, chs. 5-9 (95-178)
Th 17 Interesting Narrative, chs. 10-12 (179-236)
*Journals and commonplace books will be collected.
T 22 *Term paper is due.
Th 24 National Turkey Day. Go home.
T 29 Steele, The Conscious Lovers, Acts 1-3 (R&18thCC)
December
Th 1 Conscious Lovers, Acts 4-5
T 6 Catch-up!
T 13 Test 2 due, 8:00-11:00 AM, 521 WH
W 14 and afterwards: Have happy, polite, civil, sociable lives!
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