British Literature I

Catalog description

This survey of British writing takes historical and cultural approaches to the study of texts from the seventh century to the seventeenth, the Anglo-Saxon period to the Restoration. The course considers literature amid evolving definitions of language and tradition, national and individual identity. Readings, class discussions, research and writing assignments aim to give students a broad exposure to a number of canonical and lesser-known writers, intellectual movements, and social and political changes that shaped the development of writing in English from its local origins to transnational relevance. The course satisfies requirements for both the English major and the General Education Literature elective. Prerequisite(s): EH 105 or EH 124.