English R1A

Book List

Austen, Jane: Emma; Austen, Jane: Pride and Prejudice; Gissing, George: The Odd Women

Other Readings and Media

Films:  You’ve Got Mail; Bride and Prejudice; How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Texts from Jane Austen, excerpts

Description

Womens’ rights and choices have been a national conversation for over a century now; but when did that conversation begin? In this course, we will examine womens’ choices in Victorian novels and discuss how the tensions between social, biological, and philosophical systems at play in the 19th century gave rise to this discourse — and how they have shaped the conversation about womens’ rights today. In doing so, students will also work to develop analytic and rhetorical skills and learn to write powerfully and persuasively.

This course will be taught in Session D, from July 3 to August 9.