This course is historical in focus. By reading English novels from four different centuries (starting in the 18th and ending in the 21st), students will gain a clear understanding of the development of the novel. We will learn about the social and political contexts that gave rise to the novel as well as track how the features and the spaciotemporal dimensions of the novel transform over time. In terms of thematic focus, this course will pay particular attention to topics related to empire, national identity, and gender.
Students will…
- Study the history of the rise and globalization of the novel.
- Engage key theories of the novel.
- Learn to read primary sources through theoretical lenses.
- Develop their critical reading, writing, and speaking skills.
3 hours a week. Class meetings will consist of class discussion, mini-lectures, writing workshops, student-led presentations, and impromptu writing exercises. Reading guides and questions will be provided in class to facilitate class discussions. Because we meet only once a week, attendance is mandatory. Students should organize their reading schedules carefully as high-quality class discussions depend upon completing the readings assigned each week
100% by coursework
Participation (includes attendance, class and group discussion, student-led presentations) 25%
Historical Summary Paper 25%
18th/19th-Century Novel Paper 25%
20th/21st-Century Novel Paper 25%
Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (1719)
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (1847)
Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea (1966)
Caryl Phillips, The Lost Child (2015)
** excerpts of various theoretical and historical works will be made available on Moodle**