ENGL 23042 - British Literature to 1800

Course Credit: 1
(CMLT)
The course introduces students to British literature from its beginnings (“Caedmon’s Hymn,” Beowulf) to the late eighteenth century. Proceeding chronologically, units of the course will cover the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the 17th century (sometimes overlooked in English literary history and periodization), and the Enlightenment. Students can expect to leave the class with deeper understandings of each period’s characteristic styles and genres and of historical contexts shaping literary production, such as the rise of colonialism and the English Civil War. Providing a foundation for further reading, this course is ideal for both majors and non-majors who wish to learn more about the early periods of British literary history and their enduring influence on global literatures. [Before 1800] Prerequisite(s): ENGL-120xx; or Sophomore standing [AH]