Shawn Maurer
Spring 2002

Alexander Pope

Course Description:

This survey of literature from the Restoration and eighteenth century is designed to introduce students to the broad range of eighteenth-century literary culture as well as to the techniques of literary analysis. Reading works from a variety of genres, including poetry, prose satire or essay, drama, and the novel, we will examine the literary, social, political, religious, and economic factors at work in the shaping of eighteenth-century texts and the beliefs they embody. We will also trace the period's significant literary associations with earlier epochs, particularly classical antiquity; at the same time, we will explore the emergence of such decidedly new genres as the periodical essay and the novel. By considering authors firmly established within the eighteenth-century canon as well as those who have been excluded from it, we will investigate the correlation between aesthetics-what has been considered beautiful, and hence good and valuable, in literary studies-and relations of gender and class.

Required Texts (please buy editions specified):

The Longman Anthology of British Literature, Vol. IC: The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century,
ed. Damrosch, et al. (Longman)
Daniel Defoe, Roxana (Penguin)
Frances Burney, Evelina (Norton Critical Edition)

Course Requirements:

1) Participation and Attendance

For each day's class discussion, you should do the assigned reading carefully. (Careful reading should include the Anthology's biographical and/or critical notes and all footnotes.) For most readings, I will provide you with a handout designed both to help you with the reading process and to prepare you for class discussion. In addition to answering the questions posed by the guide, you should record your own responses to the reading, as well as writing down any questions you might have. Although I may lecture as occasion warrants, this is a primarily a discussion course, dependent upon your active and engaged participation.

To insure that you have formulated thoughtful responses to the readings, there will be occasional pop quizzes based on questions from the handouts. These quizzes will form part of your participation grade.

Attendance is expected at all times. More than three unexcused absences in the course of the term will result in your final grade being dropped, and each additional absence will also result in a drop in grade. Class participation will comprise 15% of your final grade.

2) Written assignments

You have four formal writing assignments, along with a final exam. Please note that late papers will not be accepted without a valid reason and unless you have asked for and received an extension.

Paper No. 1 (4-5 pp.): analytic essay [15%]
Paper No. 2 (5 pp.): close reading essay [15%]
Paper No. 3 (7 pp.): longer analytic essay [20%]
Paper No. 4 (5 pp.): critical evaluation essay [15%]

The final exam consists of identification passages taken from the assigned readings and essay questions [20% of final grade]

There will also be an optional/extra credit assignment on Pope's Rape of the Lock (2-3 pp.)

Academic Honesty

I expect that any work you submit for this class will be your own. If you make use of outside sources (e.g., articles, books, friends, web-sites) you must acknowledge them in the footnotes or bibliography to your paper. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, a serious academic offense that will result in your suspension or even expulsion from the college.

SCHEDULE OF READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS

Jan. 15 Introduction to the course

Jan 17 "The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century" (1978-2001); Samuel Pepys, from The Diary (2004-2018, 2020-2029)

Jan 22 John Dryden, "Mac Flecknoe" and "To the Memory of Mr.Oldham" (2103-2109)

Jan 24 Aphra Behn, "The Disappointment" (2130-2133); John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, "The Imperfect Enjoyment" (2196-2198)

Jan 29 Behn, Oroonoko (2150-2193)

Jan 31 Rochester, poems (2194-2203)

Feb. 5 George Etherege, The Man of Mode, Acts I and II (2204-2226)

Feb 7 The Man of Mode, Acts III-V (2226-2270)

Feb 12 Selections from Periodicals (2320-2341; 2347-2361)

Paper No. 1 Due

Feb 14 Eliza Haywood, Fantomina (handout); Daniel Defoe, Roxana, pp. 35-92

Feb 19 Roxana, pp. 93-201

Feb 21 Roxana, pp. 201-311; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, from Turkish Embassy Letters (2558-2562)

Feb 26 Roxana, pp. 311-end

Feb. 28 Richard Steele, Spectator No. 41 (handout); Jonathan Swift, "The Lady's Dressing Room" (2370-2373);
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, "The Reasons that Induced Dr. S. to write a Poem called The Lady's Dressing Room"(2568-2570)

Paper No. 2 due

Spring Break

March 12 Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock (2489-2508)
Optional short paper due

March 14 The Rape of the Lock continued; "Coterie Writing": Selections from Mary, Lady Chudleigh; Anne Finch; and Mary Leapor (2139-2150)

March 19 Pope, "An Epistle from Mr. Pope, to Dr. Arbuthnot" (2535-2545)

March 21 Swift, Gulliver's Travels, Book 4, and Companion Readings (2391-2451)

March 25 Screening of John Gay, The Beggar's Opera (time and room tba)

March 26 The Beggar's Opera (2571-2616)

March 28 Easter recess

April 2 Samuel Johnson, Rambler Nos. 4, 6, 170, 171 (2702-2705, 2708-2716) and "On the Death of Dr. Robert Levet" (2701-2702)

March 4 No class

March 9 Johnson, "The Vanity of Human Wishes" (2692-2700)

Paper No. 3 due

March 11 "Conduct Books" (Norton edition of Evelina, 341-345);Frances Burney, Evelina, or The History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World, Vol. I

March 16 Evelina, Vol. II

March 18 Evelina, Vol. III

March 23 Evelina, critical essays

March 25 Review for exam

March 30 Paper No. 4 due (in my office by 3 p.m.)

May 4 Sat. Final Exam (2:30 p.m.)