ENG 205: British Lit 1: Middle Ages-18th Century

Course Description

This course will focus on selected poems, plays and short stories from the Middle Ages to the 18th Century in Great Britain. While our analysis is broad in scope, it is not all-inclusive; many writers will not be covered. Other topics will include the historical and cultural contexts as well as the social issues of these periods. Students will have the opportunity to think critically and practice writing skills that will be applied in literary analysis projects. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Develop familiarity with early British literature through interpretation and discussion of readings.
  2. Assess how religion impacted British literature.
  3. Analyze the historical context of literature studied.
  4. Investigate literature and conventions critically to explore multiple interpretations.
  5. Evaluate how culture impacts literature.
  6. Create hypotheses on how symbols and imagery contribute to literature.
  7. Create and revise literary analysis of literature.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Essay #1 (100 pts, Week 3)

10%

Essay #2 (100 pts, Week 5)

10%

Journals (20 pts each, Weeks 2,4,6)

6%

Final Essay (100 pts, Week 8)

10%

Discussion and Peer Responses (640 pts, Weeks 1-8, 80 pts each)

64%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

  • There are no required texts for this course. All works will be available through open-source links and handouts. Open Web Resource: Project Gutenberg  offers over 50,000 free ebooks: choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online.

Additional Requirement

  • Students are expected to watch a movie in week five. Students are expected to seek access to film either via their public library, streaming service and/or buy DVD(s) via retailer. Additional fees may apply.

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1-6

Topics: Course Orientation and Old Saxon Heroism

  • Readings:
    • "Beowulf.” Anonymous. Project Gutenberg, Updated January 15, 2013
  • Read assigned material
  • View Video
  • Participate in Discussion

2

1-6

Topics: Chaucer: Heroism and Religion

  • Read assigned material
  • View Video
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Journal entry #1

3

1-7

Topics: Honor, Courtly Love, and Faith

  • Read assigned material
  • View Video
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Submit Topic for Final Project
  • Submit Essay #1

4

1-6

Topics: Renaissance and Religious Reform

  • Readings:
    • Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene - Introduction and Canto I, VI and XII. Spenser, Edmund. “The Faerie Queene.” Project Gutenberg, Updated March 7, 2005, 
  • Read assigned material
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Complete Journal entry #2

5

1-7

Topics: Elizabethan Era and the Role of Woman

  • Readings:
    • Shakespeare, Macbeth. Shakespeare, William. “Macbeth.” Project Gutenberg, Updated April 25, 2021, 
  • Video:
    • Compare with Macbeth starring Denzel Washington
  • Read assigned material
  • View Film
  • Participate in Discussion
  • Submit Essay #2

6

1-7

Topics: 17th Century and a Question of Faith

  • Readings:
    • John Milton, Paradise Lost- books (I, II, III, IV, V, IX, X), Milton, John. “Paradise Lost.” Project Gutenberg, Updated December 28, 2017.
  • Read assigned material
  • Participate in the Discussion
  • Complete Journal entry #3

7

1-7

Topic: 18th Century Transition

  • Readings:
    • “A Modest Proposal” Swift, Jonathan. “A Modest Proposal.” Project Gutenberg, Updated October 1, 1997
  • Read assigned material
  • Participate in the Discussion
  • Prepare Draft Final Essay

8

1-7

Topic: Final Essay

  • Readings:
    • No assigned readings this week.
  • Peer Review
  • Revise and Submit Final Essay
  • Complete Course Evalution

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.