English R1B

Book List

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

Other Readings and Media

Films:
You've Got Mail
Bridget Jones' Diary
Clueless
It Happened One Night
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Description

The marriage plot novel is seen as a thing of the past, but its influence very much lives on today in our movies, our music, and our notions of romance. This course will examine a series of genre-defining marriage plot novels from the 19th century, as well as contemporary films and other media, with an eye to identifying the conventions and the emotional logic which govern them, and learning to assess these narratives critically going forward. Students will also learn to write persuasive research papers and craft original arguments, satisfying the undergraduate R1B requirements.