Literature and Culture in the Renaissance

Catalog description

The Renaissance was a time of world-shattering change brought about by innovation, exploration, colonization, religious upheaval, the emergence of capitalism, the print revolution, scientific discovery, and unprecedented flourishing in the creative arts. In England, the same years also ushered in a golden age for English literature, which grew into its own with the arrival of canonical authors such as Thomas More, William Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser, John Milton, and many others. This course will introduce students to literary and cultural studies by convening a survey of works from the English Renaissance alongside a selection of critical readings that will help to bring England's extraordinary literary output into connection with its equally fascinating cultural context. In addition to canonical works by authors such as Shakespeare and Milton, we will also study lesser-known works by brilliant female authors such as Elizabeth Carey and Margaret Cavendish, women who have been left out of the traditional canon, not for a lack of literary merit, but because of their gender. On a similar note, the course will also consider questions such as, "How can modern readers best navigate the ethical hazards presented by problematic, centuries-old artworks?" "To what extent can we hold such artworks responsible for ideas that violate contemporary values, or contemporary boundaries of appropriateness?" and "To what extent can one study and learn from such artworks without endorsing or perpetuating the objectionable ideas or opinions they represent?" As we read, write, and converse together, we will work toward a broad understanding of what the literature of the English Renaissance means in a 21st century context, and how it has helped to shape the culture of modernity. Prerequisites: 76-101 or 76-102 or ( 76-106 and 76-107 ) or ( 76-106 and 76-108 ) or ( 76-107 and 76-108 )