The Eighteenth Century

English 325, Autumn 2000

Jack Lynch

Course Description

Go directly to:

September — October — November — December

Office: (973) 353-5279 x 516; 516 Hill Hall.

Hours: Monday, 2:00-4:00, and by appointment (appointments are best).

Home: (609) 882-4642 (before 10:30 p.m.!).

E-mail: jlynch@andromeda.rutgers.edu (the best way to reach me).

Listserv: lynch325@andromeda.rutgers.edu (for the whole class).

Course Requirements

English 325 involves the following responsibilities on your part:

Written Assignments: There will be two papers, the first of five to seven pages, the second of eight to ten.
Final Exam: A final examination will include identification of quotations, close reading, and short essays.
Attendance: Almost any excuse, given in advance (in person, by phone, or by E-mail), will receive my blessing. Absences not excused in advance will be frowned upon (which means a lower final grade).
Class Participation: Regular and active class participation (including doing the readings) is essential, and counts for a large part of your grade. Class participation obviously includes class attendance; if you're not there, you're not participating.
E-Mail Participation: All students will be required to have an E-mail account by the end of the second week of classes; E-mail participation will count toward the class participation grade, and some essential information will be available only electronically. I'll provide any computing help you need.

Readings

Four books — The Longman Anthology of British Literature, vol. 1C (abbreviated L); Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (Oxford); Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels (Dover); and Samuel Richardson, Pamela (Penguin) — are available from New Jersey Books. The remainder of the required readings are available in a photocopy pack or on-line.

Computing

This class has a mailing list called lynch325@andromeda.rutgers.edu; all students are required to have an E-mail account by the end of the second week of classes and to participate in the discussions on the list. Although I have the greatest sympathy for those suffering from technological nightmares, don't expect to use computer problems as an excuse for not doing the reading or writing. If you have a computer problem, contact me.

Schedule of Class Meetings

Wed., 6 Sept.: Introduction (class business, &c.).
Mon., 11 Sept.: Stuart Sherman, "The Restoration and Eighteenth Century" (L 1979-2002); Thomas Sprat, from The History of the Royal Society (L 2042-43); John Locke, from An Essay concerning Human Understanding (L 2631-35); David Hume, from An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding (L 2647-50).
Wed., 13 Sept.: Sir John Denham, Cooper's Hill (L 2858-67); John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, "Song" (L 2196), "The Imperfect Enjoyment" (L 2196-98), "A Satyr against Reason and Mankind" (L 2199-2203).
Mon., 18 Sept.: John Dryden, "Ode to Mrs. Anne Killigrew" (L 2109-14), Alexander's Feast (L 2114-19).
Wed., 20 Sept.: Dryden, selections from The Origin and Progress of Satire (photocopy); Mac Flecknoe (L 2103-2108). OED Exercise Due: Report on three words from Denham, Rochester, or Dryden.
Mon., 25 Sept.: George Etherege, The Man of Mode, acts I-III (L 2205-42).
Wed., 27 Sept.: Etherege, The Man of Mode, acts IV-V (L 2242-70); Jeremy Collier, from A Short View (L 2271-73); Richard Steele, Spectator 65 (L 2273-75); John Dennis, from A Defense of "Sir Fopling Flutter" (L 2275-79).
Mon., 2 Oct.: Aphra Behn, Oroonoko (L 2150-93).
Wed., 4 Oct.: Behn, Oroonoko (continued). OED Exercise Due: Report on three words from Etherege or Behn.
Mon., 9 Oct.: Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, pp. 1-97.
Wed., 11 Oct.: Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, pp. 97-194.
Mon., 16 Oct.: Defoe, Robinson Crusoe, pp. 194-306. OED Exercise Due: Report on three words from Defoe.
Wed., 18 Oct.: Jonathan Swift, "A Description of the Morning" (L 2364-65), "A Description of a City Shower" (L 2365-67), "The Lady's Dressing-Room" (L 2370-73), "Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift" (L 2374-86).
Mon., 23 Oct.: Swift, Gulliver's Travels, part I.
Wed., 25 Oct.: Swift, Gulliver's Travels, part II.
Mon., 30 Oct.: Swift, Gulliver's Travels, part III; from Philosophical Transactions (L 2044-47); from Robert Hooke, Micrographia (L 2047-54).
Wed., 1 Nov.: Swift, Gulliver's Travels, part IV; selected letters on Gulliver's Travels (L 2447-51). First Paper Due (five to seven pages).
Mon., 6 Nov.: John Gay, The Beggar's Opera, acts I and II (L 2573-2602).
Wed., 8 Nov.: Gay, The Beggar's Opera, act III (L 2602-16); William Hogarth, The Rake's Progress (L 2616-25). OED Exercise Due: Three words from Swift or Gay.
Mon., 13 Nov.: Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism (L 2461-78), selections from An Essay on Man (L 2526-35); Sir Isaac Newton, from his letter to Richard Bentley (L 2628-30).
Wed., 15 Nov.: Pope, The Rape of the Lock (L 2489-2508).
Mon., 20 Nov.: Pope, An Epistle . . . to Burlington (L 2521-26), An Epistle . . . to Dr. Arbuthnot (L 2535-45). OED Exercise Due: Three words from Pope.
Wed., 22 Nov.: No class (Friday schedule).
Mon., 27 Nov.: Mary, Lady Chudleigh, "To the Ladies" (L 2139-40); Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, "Verses Addressed to the Imitator of . . . Horace" (photocopy); selection from The Athenian Mercury (L 2350-53); Richard Steele, from Tatler 104 (L 2354-55); Joseph Addison, Spectator 128 (L 2355-57); Eliza Haywood, selections from The Female Spectator (L 2357-61).
Wed., 29 Nov.: James Thomson, selections from The Seasons (L 2658-66); Anne Finch, Lady Winchilsea, "Nocturnal Reverie" (L 2668-69).
Mon., 4 Dec.: Samuel Richardson, Pamela, pp. 31-130.
Wed., 6 Dec.: Richardson, Pamela, pp. 130-278. OED Exercise Due: Three words from Chudleigh, Montagu, Steele, Addison, Haywood, Thomson, Finch, or Richardson.
Mon., 11 Dec.: Richardson, Pamela, pp. 279-392.
Wed., 13 Dec.: Richardson, Pamela, pp. 392-516. Second Paper Due (eight to ten pages).