Strongly recommended:

A Handbook to Literature, Eds. William Harmon and C. Hugh Holman
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (6th ed), Ed. Joseph Gibaldi.

Also, see Oxford Reference Online www.oxfordreference.com for some basic reference
assistance.  It contains desktop access to 100 key Oxford dictionaries and reference works. The
Core Collection brings together 100 language and subject dictionaries and reference works -
containing well over 60,000 pages - into a single cross-searchable resource.  Also, see the
Oxford English Dictionary, the grandfather of all dictionaries at http://dictionary.oed.com 

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COURSE OBJECTIVES: The central objective of this course is to introduce you to the early |
masterpieces of English literature; specifically, this course will be a survey of British literature
from the Old English period through the Eighteenth century (Montreat College Educational Objectives IV,
1, 2, 3, and 7).

Additionally, there are several questions we will consider as we work through the course, including,
but not limited to:

1. What are the significant differences between Old, Middle, and modern English
   (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g)? 
2. How pivotal is a knowledge of Scripture when reading, analyzing, and interpreting
   literature? What "views" of Scripture are revealed by the writers? Which biblical texts
   most inform English literature through the 18th century (MCEO 1c, 1d,
   1e, 1g)?
3. How is early English literature informed by both classical and Christian traditions
   (MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g)?  
4. How do the various writers view the relationship between passion and reason, flesh and
   spirit, body and soul, matter and spirit? Are their views biblical (MCEO 1c, 1d,
   1e, 1g)?
5. In general, what view do the writers hold regarding the human condition?  Are we "created
   a little lower" than the angels or are we simply sophisticated animals? Why is how they
   approach this question important(MCEO 1c, 1d, 1e, 1g)?

GOALS:

1. That you read and analyze a primary or heroic epic, a medieval romance, middle English
   lyrics and plays, a frame poem (including its various literary genres), lyric poems and
   sonnets, a Shakespearean play, and a secondary epic (MCEO 2 and 3).
2. That you write at least one in class essay (MCEO 2 and 3).
3. That you write a literary analysis (MCEO 2 and 3).
4. That you complete quizzes and major tests (MCEO 2 and 3).
5. That you complete a creative project (MCEO 2 and 3). 
6. That you engage in research via the Internet (MCEO 2, 3, and 4).
7. That you utilize email to extend class discussion, to communicate with me, and to perform
   assigned small group work  (MCEO 2, 3, and 4). 
8. That you utilize Moodle for class management, including accessing notes, checking grades,
   participating in class discussions, and related activities (MCEO 2, 3, and 4).
9. That you turn in all important written assignments via email attachments or on diskette
   (MCEO 2, 3, and 4).

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COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1: Course introduction; Old English elegies 

Week 2:  Beowulf (in class essay)

Weeks 3 & 4:  Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

TEST 1: September 21

Weeks 5-8:  Introduction to Chaucer; The Canterbury Tales
                    Middle English lyrics and ballads;   

TEST 2: October 10

Week 9: Everyman

Weeks 10 & 11:  Shakespeare's King Lear

TEST 3:  November 7

Week 12 & 13:  Milton's Paradise Lost

Weeks 14 & 15: John Donne and George Herbert

TEST 4:  Section 1; December 10, 1:30 p.m.

        Section 2; December 11, 10:30 a.m.

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EVALUATION:

1. You will be tested in three ways.  First, in order to encourage you to keep up with the reading,
   I will give brief, unannounced quizzes from time to time.   Collectively the quizzes will
   count 20% of your final grade.  Second, you will have four major tests.  Each test will be
   based fiftypercent on class notes and fifty percent on the reading.  These tests will make-up
   40% of your final grade.  Third, you will write in class essays that will count 10% of your
   final grade.

2. You will also write a literary analysis of 1,250 to 1,500 words (5 to 6 pages). The analysis
   will count 10% of your final grade and is due Nov. 30, 2007 by midnight.  

3. You will develop a creative project based upon your personal reaction to anything we have
   studied throughout the semester.  I prefer that this project be creative in whatever fashion you
   are creative.  For example, in the past students have put on skits, built or baked various things,
   written songs, done videotape or computer presentations, painted pictures, sculpted figures,
   done needlepoint, conducted interviews, written satires, and so on.  “The sky’s the limit” but
   you should check out your idea with me before you begin.  Group projects are possible but need
   to be approved by me. The project will count 10% of your final grade and must be presented in
   front of the class on or before the last regular class meeting.  

4. The remaining 10% will come from your class participation, discussion, regular attendance,
   homework, reserve and supplemental reading, group work and various short writing
   assignments; a significant part of this grade may come from Web site searches and participation
   in a course email listserve.

5. Attendance policy.  You may miss eight classes for any reason.  I do not distinguish between
   excused and unexcused--an absence is an absence.  After you exceed eight absences, each
   additional absence will lower your final grade by 25 pts (or 2.5%).

6. There are a total of 1000 pts possible in the course. Final grades will be compiled using the
   following guidelines:

   1000-900    A to A-
   899-800      B+ to B-
   799-700      C+ to C-
   699-600      D+ to D-
   599-0          F

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LIBRARY: All students are encouraged to take advantage of the services and resources available
from the library. You can search the online catalog and the library’s databases by going to
http://www.montreat.edu/library/.  Select “Catalog” to search the online catalog or “Electronic
Resources” to search the databases.  The catalog lists all of the books in the Montreat College library
as well as the holdings of five other colleges.  You may check out books from all of these libraries 
via Interlibrary loan.  From the online catalog, you can also check on reserve materials by selecting
“Reserve Desk” and searching by instructor name or course name.  

The list of databases at http://www.montreat.edu/library/completeelectronic.asp provides links
to a variety of databases containing journal articles, online reference sources, and electronic books
(ebooks).  These databases are accessible both on and off campus. You can search for journals at
http://www.montreat.edu/library/electronic.asp.  Ask the library staff for a password for remote
access ifyou live off campus.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:  In addition to the books listed below that are on three-day reserve, the library
(or the MCLN) holds many journals that may be of help in doing research for this course. Of much
interest to you, however, will be the multiple resources available via electronic databases, especially
JSTOR.

Old English

Brodeur, A. G.  The Art of Beowulf
Fry, Donald K.  The Beowulf Poet
Greenfield, Stanley B.  A Critical History of Old English
Lawrence, W. W.  Beowulf and Epic Tradition
Nicholson, L. E.  An Anthology of Beowulf Criticism
Wrenn, Charles.  A Study of Old English

Middle English

Ackerman, Robert.  Backgrounds to Medieval English Literature
Rowland, Beryl.  Companion to Chaucer Studies
Schoek, R. J.  Chaucer Criticism, Vols. 1 and 2
Wilson, R. M.  Early Middle English Literature

Shakespeare

Bryant, J. A. Jr. Shakespeare and the Uses of Comedy.
Carter, Thomas. Shakespeare and Holy Scripture.
Charlton, H. B. Shakespearean Comedy.
Harbage, Alfred. A Reader's Guide to William Shakespeare.
Kirsch, Arthur. Shakespeare and the Experience of Love.
Milward, Peter. Shakespeare's Religious Background.
Muir, Kenneth. Shakespeare's Sources.
----------. Shakespeare: The Comedies.
Noble, Richmond. Shakespeare's Biblical Knowledge
Ornstein, Robert. Shakespeare's Comedies.
Parrott, T. Marc. Shakespearean Comedy.
Tillyard. E. M. W. The Elizabethan World Picture.

17th Century

Gardner, Helen.  John Donne
Kermode, Frank.  Discussions of John Donne
Tuve, Rosemond.  A Reading of George Herbert
Walton, Izaak.  Lives of John Donne
White, Helen.  The Metaphysical Poets

Milton

Blessington, Francis. Paradise Lost: A Student's Companion to the Poem.
Bush, Douglas. Paradise Lost in Our Time.
Danielson, Dennis. The Cambridge Companion to Milton.
Hanford, James H. John Milton, Englishman.
Kermode, Frank. The Living Milton.
Nicolson, Marjorie. John Milton: A Reader's Guide to His Poetry.
Sims, James. The Bible in Milton’s Epics.
------------ and Leland Ryken, eds. Milton and Scriptural Tradition: The Bible into Poetry.
Tillyard, E. M. W. Studies in Milton.
Walker, Julia, ed. Milton and the Idea of Woman.

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Message from the Writing Center: To write a successful paper in this course, you will need to
follow a process of planning, writing, and revising your papers.  The Writing Center tutors will work
with you one-on-one on any or all parts of this process.  This academic service is available to assist
you in becoming a confident writer, as both a student and a graduate. 

The Center is located on the top floor of the L. Nelson Bell Library in the back of the computer lab. 
The Center is open Sunday – Thursday between 6:00 and 11:00 p.m.  An appointment is not necessary.  
If you are a day student or a non-traditional student, you may contact the Director, Anne Oxenreider
(aoxenreider@montreat.edu), to schedule a daytime appointment.  In addition, please know that an
excellent internet resource is available to you at all times‑‑Purdue University’s OWL (On‑line Writing
Lab).  This site provides an “always on” and authoritative resource for composition, grammar, and
citation.  The address is http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  For all individual assignments students are expected to present their
own work; documentation of research for your literary analysis must follow the specific criteria as
outlined in the MLA Handbook for Writer of Research Paper or The Columbia Guide to Online Style.
Cases of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating and plagiarism, will result in
either of failure of the assignment or of the course.  For the college's policy on this issue, please
click academic integrity. 

FINAL COMMENTS: This syllabus and other details about the course, including your grades for
the course,are available through the college's online platform, Moodle. Please feel free to come by
my office in McGowan Center 107, contact me at extension 3819, or email me at dking@montreat.edu
if you need help with any aspect of the course.

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Back to Don King’s English Literature Page

Last updated on September 24, 2007