ENL 4220 Fall 2018 Hand

What were people reading in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries? What genres and forms were most popular among reading audiences? How did readers interact with texts?

People in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries read a wide range of texts, from broadside ballads and news pamphlets about domestic politics and international affairs, to sensational reports of witchcraft, to jest books and magic books, to almanacs (which, like their medieval predecessor the book of hours, were more popular than any other text, including the bible), and much more. This course balances readings of canonical poetry and prose from many of the usual suspects (e.g., Sidney, Spenser, Donne, Lanyer, Milton, More, Montaigne, Bacon) with exploration of myriad texts that were popular in the time period, accompanied by secondary readings for critical and contextual perspectives. Students will gain an understanding of the context in which these texts were produced and consumed, consider the formation of the canon at the exclusion of "popular" and "genre" literature, and develop a nuanced view of early modern readerships and literacies.

Assignments may include: discussion board posts, reading quizzes, literary analysis and research papers, midterm and final exams. Regular attendance is required.

This course requires a great deal of reading, and students new to the study of early modern English literature may need to read at a deliberately slow pace in order to comprehend the texts. Students should be prepared to spend several hours each week on course readings alone, not including time needed to complete assignments.

Required Text: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Ninth Edition, Vol. B - The Sixteenth Century / The Early Seventeenth Century - ISBN 978-0-393-91250-0. All other course readings will be accessed through university and open-access databases.