ENL 2012 British Literature to 1798
Welcome to British Literature to (410 A.D. to 1798 A. D.). British Literature has had an enormous impact on the modern world, not only in literature but also in areas such as culture, religion, politics, and economics. You will have the opportunity to read some of the greatest literature ever written. You will also learn about the origins of the English language, the history of Europe, and the development of modern writing.
Course Description
Students will be introduced to works that trace the development of the thematic, linguistic, and literary characteristics of British literature from 410 A.D. through 1798. Texts may be selected from major authors such as the Beowulf poet, Chaucer, Dryden, Marie de France, Pope, Shakespeare, Marlowe, Milton, Spenser, and Swift. Upon successful completion of the course, students will understand the significant concepts, contexts, movements, figures, and works of British Literature from 410 A.D. through 1798.
Methods of Instruction
This is a 3 credit hour course. Normally, a three credit hour course meets two times each week (during a 16 week term) for a total of 3 hours per week or 48 hours per term. In this class, we will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. You will engage in structured in-class and online activities. The course will include online discussions, response journals, four writing project, in-class activities, a group project, and readings. See the course schedule for a detailed description of learning activities and assignments. Students are responsible for regularly reviewing the course schedule and completing all required in and out of class assignments.
General Course Outcomes
- Students shall learn literary concepts and techniques and apply them to the study of British literature since 410 A.D. to 1798 and the contexts from which they emerge.
- Students shall read and discuss a diverse and representative sample of British literature (i.e., oral poetry, poems, heroic narratives, or lays) published between 410 and 1066 and interpret their impact on British literature. Authors may represent the movement or periods such as the Celtic and Germanic Migrations or Old English and may include (among others): the Beowulf poet, The Dream of the Rood poet, or The Táin Bó Cuailnge poet.
- Students shall read and discuss a diverse and representative sample of British literature (i.e., poems, narratives, plays, or romances) published between 1066 and 1500 and interpret their impact on British literature. Authors may represent emerging movements of the Middle Ages, Courtly Love, Reverdie, the Lay, English Lyric, or the Great Vowel Shift and may include (among others) Geoffrey of Monmouth, Marie de France, the Pearl poet, Malory, Chaucer, Langland, Julian of Norwich, Dunbar, Henryson, Margery Kempe, or Christine de Pizan.
- Students shall read and discuss a diverse and representative sample of American literature (i.e., poems, plays, essays, or novels) published from 1500 to 1798 and interpret their impact on British literature. Authors may represent emerging movements and periods such as the Early Modern Period, Elizabethan Period, the Great Vowel Shift, Restoration, Neoclassical, Metaphysical poets, or the Age of Reason and may include (among others) Behn, Dryden, Pope, Johnson, Defoe, Haywood, Marlowe, Spenser, or Swift.
- Students shall be able to write a structured paper that incorporates research and engages in an analysis of the literary movement, author, or text(s) within British literature since 410 A.D. to 1798.
Course Requirements
- Eligibility for ENC 1101
Required Material
- Longman Anthology of British Literature, Volume I, The: The Middle Ages through The Eighteenth Century, 4/E Editor: Damrosh, Dettmar, et. al. (ISBN-10: 0205655246 OR ISBN-13: 9780205655243)
- A Writer's Reference 6th Edition by Diana Hacker (ISBN-13 978-0-312-59870-9 OR ISBN-10 0-312-59870-X)
Contact Information: Karen Parker
Email: kparker@broward.edu
