English R1A

Other Readings and Media

"Bronte, C.: Jane Eyre

Defoe, D.: Robinson Crusoe

Dickens, C.: A Tale of Two Cities

Gaskell, E.: Mary Barton

Shelley, M.: Frankenstein

Course Reader



Recommended:

Crews, F.: The Random House Handbook 6th edition "

Description

"In this course we will consider the relationship between two phenomena closely associated with modernity: the novel and political revolution. How do novels represent?or fail to represent?the revolutionary event? In what ways do they seek to promulgate, redirect, and/or contain revolutionary ideas and energies? Are there meaningful connections between the revolutionary desire to renovate society and the aesthetic and economic ambitions of novelists writings during the genre?s famous ?rise? to literary predominance?



In addition to reading novels, we will take up several short pieces?historical, philosophical, and literary?designed to contextualize our discussion. Although we will focus on the British case in order to insure the cohesion of the class, students are encouraged to work on the (many) novels relevant to the course rubric from other traditions?Latin American, Western and Eastern European, Asian?for their final paper.



The authors we will read are writers of the highest merit; they are thus perfect aids to the process of learning to write sophisticated and convincing analytic and expository prose. We will focus on improving your ability to develop and defend a thesis, present and analyze evidence to support your claims, and edit your own work and the work of others through a variety of assignments and in-class exercises. Students will be responsible for writing and revising four or five essays over the course of the semester. "