Engl 41701 / 52701: early 17th-century english poetry
Fall 2023: TR 4:30-5:45 LA 232
We’ll read selections from several poets, the non-canonical as well as the traditional, from the reign of James I to slightly after the Restoration (1603-1667). Although we'll spend a bit more time on John Donne, Ben Jonson, George Herbert, Andrew Marvell, and John Milton, we will also study poets such as Robert Herrick, Thomas Carew, Edmund Waller, Richard Lovelace, Aemilia Lanyer, and Katherine Philips. We'll devote the last month of the course to Paradise Lost. We'll investigate trends in seventeenth-century English history: the reigns of James I, Charles I, Charles II, and James II; Oliver Cromwell and the English Revolution; religion and society.
Sir Herbert Grierson, ed. Metaphysical Lyrics and Poems of the Seventeenth Century (1921)
Dr. Johnson, Life of Cowley (1784)
T. S. Eliot, Review of Grierson ["The Metaphysical Poets"] in TLS 1921
Seventeenth-century timeline (BBC)
Magnificent Paradise Lost in medias res chart
Grandmother Eve and Prelapsarian Sexuality
Seventeenth-Century English women writers (Wiki)
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
As an instructor, and by law, I am not allowed to discuss the medical history, records, or condition of any student.
If and when we are all supposed to be masked when on campus, please cooperate. If you refuse to comply, I am supposed to report you.
Course policies about attendance and late papers will be standard, as described below. In the event that you are exposed to The Virus and are supposed to be quarantined, we'll make modifications, though it's expected that you will keep up with your work and turn things in on time.
Exceptions to course policies must be supported by official communications from the Dean of Students.
Syllabus
General Information
Office: LA 233 Hours: please contact me
shakespeareinyourface.blogspot.com
Texts: Rumrich and Chaplin, eds., ed., Seventeenth-Century British Poetry: 1603-1660: A Norton Critical Edition (ISBN: 0393979989) .
Teskey, ed., Paradise Lost: A Norton Critical Edition (ISBN: 0393924289)
22 24 29 August
Introductions, Stuarts, neoclassicism, baroque, mannerism, Puritans, Anglicans;
Ben Jonson, "On Something That Walks Somewhere"; "On My First Daughter"; "On My First Son"; "Inviting a Friend to Supper"; "Why I Write Not of Love"; "To Penshurst"; "Shakespeare"
31 August; 5 7 12 September
John Donne, "The Sun Rising"; “The Flea”; “The Apparition”; “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning”; “The Ecstasy”; “Elegy: On His Mistress Going to Bed”; [“At the round earth’s imagined corners”]; [“Death be not proud”]; [“Batter my heart”]; “Good Friday, 1613: Riding Westward”
FIRST SHORT ASSIGNMENT DUE FRIDAY 1 SEPTEMBER
14 19 21 September
George Herbert, “The Altar”; “Redemption”; “Easter [I]”; “Easter-wings [I]”; “Affliction [I]”; “Jordan [I]”; “Jordan [II]”; “The Collar”; “Love [III]”
SECOND SHORT ASSIGNMENT DUE FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER
26 28 September; 3 October
John Milton, Lycidas; writing a research paper, MLA style
THIRD SHORT ASSIGNMENT DUE FRIDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
NO CLASS 5 AND 10 OCTOBER
12 19 24 October
Robert Herrick, “The Argument of His Book”; “Dreams”; “Delight in Disorder”; “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”; “His Prayer to Ben Jonson”; “The Bad Season Makes the Poet Sad”; “Upon Julia’s Clothes”; Thomas Carew, "Song: Persuasions to Enjoy"; Richard Lovelace, "Love Made in the First Age: To Chloris"; Edmund Waller, “The Story of Phoebus and Daphne Applied”; “Song [Go, lovely rose]”; Sir John Denham, Cooper's Hill ; Katherine Philips, “To Mrs. M. A. at Parting”
ANALYTICAL ESSAY DUE FRIDAY, 20 October, 11:59 p.m. via Brightspace
NO CLASS TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER
24, 26 October
Katherine Philips
FIRST EXAM DUE FRIDAY 27 OCTOBER 11: 59 pm. via Brightspace
FOURTH SHORT ASSIGNMENT DUE FRIDAY 3 NOVEMBER
November and December
Aemelia Lanyer, Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum
Andrew Marvell
31 October, 9 November:”Horatian Ode,” “Coy Mistress,” “Definition of Love”
14 November-7 December: Paradise Lost
FIFTH SHORT ASSIGNMENT DUE FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER
The poem is hard going for the novice. It helps to listen as your eyes run over the words.
You can hear it at this LibriVox link, read by Thomas A. Copeland.
We'll take turns presenting parts of the poem.
14 November: Book I (Doc); Book II.1-628 (Jocelyn); Book II.629-1050 (Paige)
16 November: Book III (Claire); Book IV (Doc)
28 November: Book V (Jocelyn); Book VI (Claire); Book VII (Paige)
30 December: Book VIII (Doc)
5 December: Book IX (The class)
7 December: Book X; (The class); Books XI and XII (Doc)
SECOND EXAM DUE FRIDAY 15 DECEMBER 11.59 p.m. via Brightspace
NO CLASS 2, 7, 21, 23 NOVEMBER
short assignments
Assignment 1
Read the Fish essay in the prompt module below. Write a paragraph in which you explain what his thesis is. Use the three major forms of research writing: quotation, paraphrase, summary. Use the conventions of MLA style outlined at the bottom of this website, including a correct Works cited page.
There is no need to write a conventional opening paragraph. Just start right in with your analysis.
5 pts. Due Friday, 1 September, via Brightspace by 11.59 p.m. No late papers
Assignment 2
Do the same thing with Boesky. Read her essay in the prompt module below. Write a paragraph in which you explain what her thesis is. Use the three major forms of research writing: quotation, paraphrase, summary. Use the conventions of MLA style outlined at the bottom of this website, including a correct Works cited page.
There is no need to write a conventional opening paragraph. Just start right in with your analysis.
5 pts. Due Friday, 15 September, via Brightspace by 11.59 p.m. No late papers
Assignment 3
More practice: read the three essays. Write a paragraph or section of your upcoming paper in which you identify one smaller element that the trio has in common in the essays you've read.
Use the three major forms of research writing: quotation, paraphrase, summary. Use the conventions of MLA style outlined at the bottom of this website, including a correct Works cited page.
There is no need to write a conventional opening paragraph. Just start right in with your analysis.
5 pts. Due Friday, 29 September, via Brightspace by 11.59 p.m. No late papers
Assignment 4
What does Milton seem to convey to the reader about himself in the sonnet “How Soon Hath Time”?
5 pts. Due Friday, 3 November, via Brightspace by 11.59 p.m. No late papers
Assignment 5
Eve’s notorious dream (PL 5.28-94) has sometimes been described as a dramatically ironic statement of her own narcissism. Why would someone say this? Do you agree?
5 pts. Due Friday, 17 November, via Brightspace by 11.59 p.m. No late papers
Specs
Each of these is worth 5 pts. The 5 as a group are worth 25% of your overall grade.
They cannot be late.
They should be 1-2 pp, no shorter.
They are revisable, after an office conference
The due date for a revision is any time before the second exam is due, 15 December
COURSE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE AND GOOD MANNERS
You are allowed five (5) absences for any reason you choose. Students who miss more than this will fail the course, without exception, regardless of circumstances. I do not distinguish between “excused” and “unexcused” absences, nor am I responsible for material that you miss because you are absent. Students who miss the attendance call (the first five minutes of class) will be marked absent; students who get up and leave in the middle of class will be marked absent. Please take care of your rest room issues BEFORE class. If you must leave, give us the high sign.
NOTE: if you signed up for the class, it is understood that you can attend it regardless of family or employment obligations. If you have emergencies, this is why you have absences allowed.
DUE DATES
Your paper, shorter assignments, and take-home exams are due on the scheduled non-class dates by 11:59 p.m. via Brightspace. Late papers = 0. No exceptions. The paper and exams will be short, 4-6 pp. Short assignments 1-2 pp. Your paper, first exam, and all short assignments may be revised after meeting with the instructor in the and discussing your plans.
DON'T BE A PLAGIARIST
it should go without saying that students are also expected to do their own work; indebtedness to secondary materials (either printed or electronic) must be clearly indicated so as to avoid plagiarism:
—(piecemeal) using someone else’s words and phrases as if they were your own, not pararphrasing or summarizing properly, even with proper documentation;
—(grotesque) using someone else’s ideas as if they were your own, without proper documentation;
—(more grotesque) allowing someone else to write your paper for you.
GRADING
The course grade will be determined by the average of four categories: your analytical essay (25 pts.), take-home midterm (25 pts.), take-home final exam (25 pts.), and your five short assignments 5 pts. x 5 =25 pts). I reserve the right to take into additional factors into account; improvement, class participation, and, of course, attendance. Grades are not negotiable, personal, or subject to the influence of extracurricular academic factors.
We grade on the usual 100 pt. scale: 90s = A, 50s = F
COMMUNICATION
You may email me at any time. I will usually get back to you quickly: stapletm@pfw.edu
ANALYTICAL ESSAY
PROMPT
So that we can how and why scholars write about their interests, we'll read three critical essays devoted to Lycidas.
If you're interested, the first printing of the poem is at this link, the first page of it to the left.
We'll pursue what I hope will not be a difficult assignment. Once you've familiarized yourself with Milton's poem, read the three essays I've provided in .pdf form in the links below. As you'll see, the trio writes about this "pastoral elegy," but each takes a different approach to the poem, in some cases remarkably so.
Noting the differences between the three essays should be simple. What I'm interested in is what points of similarity they share in their approaches to the poem itself.
Write a synthesis of the three critical essays, based on points of similarity. This means that every paragraph you write should be devoted to one similarity only between the three critics, with clearly quoted and analyzed evidence from them..
This means that you cannot just summarize each essay independent of one another. This is not something you can do off the top of your head at the last minute. If you familiarize yourself with the poem and the essays by reading a little every day, this will be much easier.
Virtually every part of your project will need to be documented, not just quoted material but summarized and paraphrased commentary that you want to add. At the same time, you're the person in charge, because your argument will shape the paper. You're the person who's telling the audience what's important.
Here are some things to think about as you begin:
What is the critic's thesis? What does he or she begin with in the first few paragraphs? What is the critic's conclusion, at the end? How does the paper present evidence? Are there passages from Lycidas that all three of them quote, analyze, and interpret? (That would be the most logical place to look for similarities.)
We are using MLA Works Cited style. Please see the handouts below, along with the requirements for paper formatting. Correctness matters here. It should be simple, however, given the handouts I've provided.
Send me your paper in a Word document from on Brightspace. You can always turn your paper in early. Most of my students do. Late papers will result in an F grade (see syllabus). Last-minute computer problems are no excuse.
SPECS
25 pts.
4-5 pp.
due Friday, 20 October , 11:59 p.m. via Brightspace
no late papers
The grade on your analytical paper is approximate. This means that you may revise for a better grade. However, you really have to revise the essay, and you must schedule an office conference before you undertake your revision. And that grade is final. The due date for the revision is any time before the second exam is due, 15 December.
FIRST EXAM
PROMPT
Donne, Jonson, Herbert, Herrick, Marvell, Carew, Waller: what common field marks do they share to identify them as poets of their time? Or, what one specific thing do they all have in common?
Besides maleness, that is.
One creative idea with two options: Katherine Philips. Which of her poems seem to engage with our other writers? Specifically? Or, how would each react, specifically, to one of the Philips pieces we read?
This is a take-home examination. Detail and specificity, as well as adventurous thinking, are definitely prized here. Since this is an exam rather than a formal paper, strict adherence to the conventions and formatting of formal writing are not necessarily required. At the same time, please consult the Writing Papers webpage.
SPECS
25 pts.
4-5 pp.
reputable sources if you care to use them
due Friday, 27 October , 11:59 p.m. via Brightspace
no late papers
*The grade on your exam is approximate. This means that you may revise for a better grade. However, you really have to revise the exam, and you must schedule an office conference before you undertake your revision. And that grade is final. The due date for the revision is any time before the second exam is due, Wednesday, 15 December, 11:59 p.m. via Brightspace
SECOND EXAM
PROMPT
Your final mission is simple. What is Miltonic? What is characteristic of the author we have been reading and studying for the last month? By which signs and tendencies would you know him? Use short but appropriate quotations from Paradise Lost and other works to make your point.
Because it is not my practice to write comments on final papers and exams, yours will not be returned, unless you really, really, really want it back, with lots of comments. You must request this, however.
Specs
25 pts.
4-5 pp.
no need for secondary materials
due 15 December, by 11:59 p.m. via Brightspace
no late papers
STANDARD PAPER FORMATTING
SOFTWARE
As a PFW student, you are entitled to free software, which you'll need. If you follow this link, you can dowload your own copy of Office 365 from IT services.
EVERYTHING IS DOUBLE-SPACED
Everything in your regular papers should be double-spaced. There are no extra spaces between paragraphs, and block quotations are double-spaced. Go into your copy of Word, find the Paragraph menu, and make sure that it looks like the picture to the left.
CHECK YOUR HEADING
It can be on the left or the right side
Your Name
ENGL 41701
My Name
Date
On the next line after the heading, center a title for the paper.
Begin your text on the next line after that title.
OTHER FORMATTING
- Don't use "fun" fonts or all-caps.
- Your font size should be 12-point.
- Don't use 'single quotation marks' for emphasis, or, for that matter, for most any reason at all.
EVERYTHING IS ELECTRONIC
You'll compose your papers and shorter assignments in Word and email them to me, so there is nothing in hard copy. Attach your paper as a Word document to your email. Do NOT send it in Google Docs. Do NOT send it in .pdf.