link to writing center

This course will introduce students to the wicked and bawdy underbelly of early modern Britain as seen through the eighteenth-century novel. We will focus on the interaction between evolving narrative practices (for instance, a new emphasis on stories of ordinary lives) and changing cultural practices (such as new kinds of marriage and a developing commercial economy). By placing our readings within the social and historical context of the rapidly developing British nation and the exploding growth of the city of London, we will ask what purpose the novel served at its time, and consider how it was used as both a new social tool and a new form of entertainment. We will also, of course, think about the relationships between these early novels and later ones, as well as the connections between their world and our supposedly post-eighteenth-century one.

Texts (available in bookstore):
Aphra Behn, Oroonoko (1688)
Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders (1722)
Samuel Richardson, Pamela (1740)
Henry Fielding, Shamela (1741)
Henry Fielding, Joseph Andrews (1742)
Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy (1759-61)
Fanny Burney, Evelina (1778)
(recommended criticism is on reserve at the library)
list of reserve reading

Requirements: critical reports & response papers (15%), 2 short papers (15%, 15%), presentation (20%), mid-term (10%), final (10%), participation (15%) (You must pass each part to pass the class.)

Participation: This is a discussion class. Come to class prepared to discuss the readings. (To do this, of course, you must come to class: attendance is required.)

Exams (including surprise quizzes) will include both identifications and essays.

Plagiarism: Do your work, and do your own work. If you cheat, you fail. Period.

Writing: Because writing well is an integral component of reading well, there will be regular and frequent writing assignments in this class. These will be divided into three levels or stages:
First, for each class please prepare a prep paragraph, which should consist of a brief comment or question about the day’s reading. Sometimes a passage or theme will be assigned and sometimes you will choose your own. These will be presented orally in class or shown to me.
Second, each week an informal response paper will be due. These are on topics of your own choosing, responses to the week’s readings or class discussions. They may further elaborate on your prep paragraphs or be on something completely different. Each Friday, a couple of people will share their responses with the class—and each of you should volunteer to share a response at least twice during the semester.
Third, there will be 2 short formal essays (3-5 pages) on topics assigned by me (although you will always have the option of proposing an alternative topic, which could start from either your prep paragraphs or your response papers).

All papers handed in to me or used for in-class workshops must be word-processed, double spaced, with normal margins and font.

Presentation:

Each student will present to the class some of the criticism on one of our primary texts. Please select 2-3 critical essays (3-4 if you work with a partner), and offer a synopsis of the main argument and context of each piece. You will share your project with the class in a 5-10 minute presentation. Please consult with me on your topic at least a week in advance, and hand in an annotated bibliography at the time of your presentation. You may work with another student on your presentation if you wish.
presentation guidelines

week of:

8/28
(M) introduction
(W) John Richetti, Intro, The English Novel in History (handout)
(F) Ian Watt, Rise of the Novel, chs. 1-2 (on reserve)

9/4
(M) Labor Day: no class
(W) Aphra Behn, Oroonoko
(F) Behn

9/11
(M) Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders (--p. 59)
(W) Defoe (--p. 129)
(F) Defoe (--p. 188)
paper 1 assignment

9/18
(M) Defoe (--p. 238)
(W) workshop: draft due
editing worksheet
(F) Defoe (--p. 343)
      paper 1 due

9/25
(M) Samuel Richardson, Pamela (--p. 151)
(W) Richardson
(F) Richardson (--p. 278)

10/2
(M) Richardson (--p. 345)
(W) Richardson (--p. 386)
(F) no class

10/9
(M) Yom Kippur: no class
(W) Henry Fielding, Shamela
(F) mid-term

10/16
(M, W, F) fall break: no class

10/23
(M) Fielding, Joseph Andrews, bk 1
(W) Fielding, JA, bk 2
(F) Fielding, JA, bk 3

10/30
(M) Fielding, JA, bk 4
(W) Fielding, JA
(F) no class (draft due)

11/6
(M) Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy (vol. 1, --p. 63)
       paper 2 due
(W) Sterne (vol. 2, --p. 122)
(F) Sterne (vol. 3, --p. 193)

11/13
(M) Sterne (vols. 4-5, --p. 325)
(W) Sterne (vol. 6, --p. 381)
(F) Sterne (vol. 7, --p. 432)

11/20
(M) Sterne (vols. 8-9, --p. 539)
(W, F) Thanksgiving Break

11/27
(M) Fanny Burney, Evelina (--p. 132)
(W) Burney (--p. 179)
(F) Burney (--p. 206)

12/4
(M) Burney (--p. 269)
(W) Burney (--p. 310)
(F) Burney (--p. 348)

12/11
(M) Burney (--p. 406)
(W) wrap up