English Literature, 1745-1800

English 326, Spring 1999

Jack Lynch

Go directly to:

Office: (973) 353-5279x516; 516 Hill Hall. Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 11:30-12:30, and by appointment (appointments are always good).

Home: (609) 750-1263 (before 11 p.m.!).

E-mail: jlynch@andromeda.rutgers.edu (the best way to reach me).

Listserv: lynch326@andromeda.rutgers.edu

Course Requirements

English 326 involves the following responsibilities on your part:

Written Assignments: There will be two analytical papers, the first of five to seven pages, the second either a new paper of eight to ten, or an expansion of your first paper to twelve or more pages. See below, "Attendance and Late Papers," for my revision policy.
Final Exam: A final examination will include identification of quotations, analysis of passages, and short essays.
In-Class Reports: You'll be expected to give a brief presentation on the day's reading once during the semester. Details are below.
Class Participation: Regular and active class participation (including doing the readings) is essential, and counts for a large part of your grade. Class participation obviously includes class attendance; if you're not there, you're not participating.
Attendance and Late Papers: Almost any excuse, given in advance (in person, by phone, or by E-mail), will receive my blessing. Those not excused in advance will be frowned upon. Late papers will not be penalized, but any paper handed in on time can be revised later in the semester for a higher grade. Papers received after the due date cannot be revised.
E-Mail Participation: All students will be required to have an E-mail account by the end of the second week of classes; E-mail participation will count toward the class participation grade, and some essential information will be available only electronically. I'll provide any computing help you need.

Readings

Eight books -- Johnson's Rasselas (Oxford), Boswell's Life of Johnson (Oxford), Walpole's Castle of Otranto (Oxford), Sheridan's School for Scandal (Dover), Sterne's Tristram Shandy (Oxford), Burney's Evelina, Equiano's Narrative, and Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience (Dover) -- are available from the Rutgers Newark Bookstore in Bradley Hall. The remainder of the readings are available in a photocopy pack from Affordable Copies (68 Halsey St.); many are also on reserve in Dana Library and on-line.

Reports

Each student will do an in-class report on the day's readings, lasting no more than ten minutes. The point of a report is to start the day's discussion. Choose one short passage in the day's reading material, and do a brief close reading, relating the concerns of that passage to the larger concerns in the work (and in the class). Feel free to read a short (one-page-ish) prepared report, to speak from notes, or to extemporize -- whatever makes you comfortable -- but be both informative and engaging. These are not research projects; you needn't do any outside reading. If you think some outside reading will improve your ability to start conversation, feel free. Anything else that will help -- handouts, short readings for the rest of the class -- is welcome and encouraged.

Computing

This class has a mailing list called lynch326@andromeda.rutgers.edu; all students are required to have an E-mail account by the send of the second week of classes and to participate in the discussions on the list. Although I have the greatest sympathy for those suffering from technological nightmares, don't expect to use computer problems as an excuse for not doing the reading or writing. If you have a computer problem, contact me as soon as possible.

Grading

Final grades will be based on the following:

40%, The two papers (the final paper will be weighted more heavily)
25%, The final exam
15%, The in-class report
20%, Class participation (including E-mail participation)

Schedule of Class Meetings

Wed., 20 Jan.: Introduction (class business, &c.).
Mon., 25 Jan.: Samuel Johnson, The Vanity of Human Wishes; James Boswell, The Life of Johnson, pp. 19-36, 118-43; Northrop Frye, "Towards Defining an Age of Sensibility."
Wed., 27 Jan.: Samuel Johnson, Ramblers 12, 32, and 60, Idlers 60 and 61; James Boswell, The Life of Johnson, pp. 143-63.
Mon., 1 Feb.: Samuel Johnson, Rasselas; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 166-77, 181-89.
Wed., 3 Feb.: Samuel Johnson, Rasselas and Rambler 4; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 209-16, 240-43.
Mon., 8 Feb.: Thomas Gray, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard and "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College"; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 43-65.
Wed., 10 Feb.: William Collins, "Ode to Evening" and "Ode on the Poetical Character"; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 65-97.
Mon., 15 Feb.: Oliver Goldsmith, The Deserted Village; Charlotte Smith, selections from The Emigrants; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 590-96.
Wed., 17 Feb.: David Hume, selections from A Treatise of Human Nature; Edmund Burke, selections from Philosophical Enquiry into the Sublime and the Beautiful; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 596-603.
Mon., 22 Feb.: Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 403-11.
Wed., 24 Feb.: Horace Walpole, The Castle of Otranto; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 411-24.
Mon., 1 March: Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, Acts I-II; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 272-307.
Wed., 3 March: Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, Acts III-V; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 312-25.
Mon., 8 March: Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, pp. 1-122 (vols. 1-2); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 379-89.
Wed., 10 March: Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, pp. 123-93 (vol. 3); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 686-701. FIRST PAPER DUE (five to seven pages).
Mon., 22 March: Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, pp. 195-325 (vols. 4-5); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 538-43.
Wed., 24 March: No Class.
Mon., 29 March: Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, pp. 327-479 (vols. 6-8); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 344-53.
Wed., 31 March: Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy, pp. 481-539 (vol. 9); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 732-48.
Mon., 5 April: Frances Burney, Evelina, pp. 1-132 (volume 1); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 764-76.
Wed., 7 April: Frances Burney, Evelina, pp. 135-225 (through vol. 2, letter 19); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 827-35.
Mon., 12 April: Frances Burney, Evelina, pp. 225-323 (through vol. 3, letter 10); James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 1203-19.
Wed., 14 April: Frances Burney, Evelina, pp. 324-406; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 1234-37.
Mon., 19 April: Olaudah Equiano, Narrative, pp. 27-125; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 876-86.
Wed., 21 April: Olaudah Equiano, Narrative, pp. 125-96; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 579-82.
Mon., 26 April: Christopher Smart, selections from Jubilate Agno; William Cowper, selections from The Task; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 105-107, 424-28.
Wed., 28 April: William Blake, Songs of Innocence and Experience; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 1275-1304.
Fri., 30 April: William Blake, Songs of Innocence and Experience; James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, pp. 1374-1402. SECOND PAPER DUE (eight to ten pages, or an expansion of your first paper to twelve or more pages).