English 451: The English Novel
An Individually-Designed Study in Novels in English

Fall Semester, 2006
MWF, 2:30, HH 306

Dr. Donna J. Hart
225 Hogue Hall
Office Phone: 664-6805; Home Phone: 664-3863
Office Hours: All day on Thursday, or by appointment.
Email: Donna.Hart@greenville.edu

Required Texts:

The texts will vary with the individual programs each student sets up. One may read only traditional novels; another only detective novels; still another only post-colonial novels. The student and professor will collaborate on a list of texts and will attempt to find at least 2 novels each from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

Course Description:

This course begins with a historical survey of the development of the British novel, from the late 17th century up to today. It focuses on one important English novel, Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, so that students can practice careful reading in order to analyze plot, setting, character, theme, imagery, symbol, etc. and can gain some fundamental familiarity with various critical "lenses" through which the same novel might be read. Thereafter, each student examines British novels within his/her chosen subgenre to determine how they operate differently from and similarly to what we might consider “traditional” British novels. The class will use a lecture format, as well as seminar sessions and an individual conference format.

Course Objectives:

Students will--

1. develop a working knowledge of British political and literary history, as they relate to the development of the novel in English. (IO A 1; ELAO 1, 4, 11, 12; TEO 1)
2. name some of the important novels and novelists from both Britain and/or the post-colonial nations, depending on the student's chosen subgenre. (IO C 8; ELAO 11; TEO 1)
3. understand and describe the characteristics and literary techniques of each novel. (IO A 2; ELAO 10; TEO 1)
4. identify and describe several subgenres within the novel genre (i.e., sentimental novel, bildungsroman, novel of manners, crime/detective novel, amatory/marriage novel, magical realism, etc.). (IO A 2 C8; ELAO 11; TEO 1)
5. understand, describe, and compare the cultural characteristics of the nations which produced the novels. (IO B 4, 6; ELAO 11; TEO 1)
6. discuss the similarities and differences between various writers and their literary works. (IO A 2; ELAO 1, 10, 11, 12; TEO 1, 5)
7. elicit similarities and differences between novels of particular genres as they reflect 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, and 20th century British culture. (IO A 2; ELAO 1, 10, 11, 12; TEO 1, 5)
8 . know the devices and functions of the literary language employed in those literary modes. (IO A 2 C 8; ELAO 1, 3, 4, 7, 10, 11; TEO 1)
9 . read closely an unfamiliar literary text of varying difficulty with good comprehension of its cultural context, its literary and language techniques, its structural characteristics, and its themes. (IO A 1, 2; ELAO 1, 5; TEO 1, 5 )
10 . value literary analysis, research of secondary sources, and the discussion of ideas as worthy pursuits in and of themselves. (IO C 8; ELAO 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12; TEO 1, 5, 9)
11. judge the artistic significance of writings (including both their communication of meaningful human concerns as well as literary merit). (IO A 2; ELAO 1, 5, 18; TEO 1)
12. examine and, hopefully, enhance their understanding of, expression of, and hope in their own Christian faith as they listen to other witnesses, some Christian and some not. (IO C 9; ELAO 1, 18, 19; TEO 11)
13. find the resonance between humanity as expressed in great literature and their own human condition. (IO A 1 B 4 C 9; ELAO 1, 18, 19; TEO 11)

Assessment:

Students will meet all these objectives through class discussion, a journal of responses to a specific list of questions about each novel (recorded throughout the semester), 1-2 short papers related to the novels they are reading, and a final research paper that collates what they have learned about their subgenre of novels.

Tentative Class Schedule:

Week One—(August 30)

W - Introduction to the class, syllabus, requirements and papers, grading, etc.

F - Lecture. The development of the British novel.

Week Two—(September 4)

M - Read and discuss approximately the first half of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

W - Read and discuss last half of HD.

F - Looking at HD through a multiplicity of critical lenses. Assignment: Turn in a copy of your intended reading list, with all appropriate due dates, and as per our discussion with each other (completion of novels, completion of papers, completion of final research paper) [30 points]. Once you choose your novels, you will keep a running journal about each novel. I will frequently send you a specific question to which to respond--in addition to your own questions, thoughts, analysis that you are doing in your journal as you read.

Week Three—(September 11)

During this week, find out what are the expectations of the subgenre you have chosen--plot, character, language, theme, etc. Find out what significant events of late 17th or 18th century might be important in regard to your novels. You should finish reading novel 1 (written 1675-1799) and complete all journal entries. We will not meet formally in class. **Please feel free to come to the office for conferences!

Week Four—(September 18)

M - We will meet only this day, and you will discuss for the class 1) how your type of novel is unique in its literary expectations and 2) how it reflects the century/place in which it was written.

Week Five—(September 25)

Finish reading your novel 2 (same time period). Constantly look for ways that the time and place in which it was written pertain to the events or style of the novel. Complete all journal entries. No formal class. Assignment: Turn in your journal on Friday for a preliminary grade (100 points).

Week Six—(October 2)

Find and read a journal article about novel 2. Make it 10 + pages. Using First Search, InfoTrac, and Ebsco are fine, but don't forget the PMLA Index, on the second floor shelves, and the Essay and General Literature Index on the shelves by the first floor elevator. If you've never used these before, I will help you--or the research librarian will. THEY ARE GOOD SOURCES. Assignment: Write a 2-3 page summary paper of the article you've read, and respond, in terms of whether you agree or disagree, and why (50 points). Post it to Blackboard Digital Drop Box by 4 p.m. on Friday, October 6.
W - We will meet only this day, for analysis and discussion.

Week Seven—(October 9)

During this week, find out if the expectations of the subgenre you have chosen are changing. Find out what significant events of 19th century might be important in regard to your novels. You should finish reading novel 3 (written 1800-1899) and complete all journal entries. We will not meet formally in class. **Please feel free to come to the office for conferences!

Week Eight—(October 16)

M - We will meet only this day, and we will discuss how each type of novel reflects the century/place in which it was written. We will discuss whether gender of the writer makes any difference in the concerns, themes, "voice" of the novel. Keep your journal up-to-date.

Week Nine—(October 23)

During this week, read novel 4 (also from the 19th century). We will not meet, but conferences are welcome. Assignment: Turn in your journal on Friday (100 points).

Week Ten—(October 30)

M - We will meet only this day and focus on one issue that pertains to all of these 19th century novels. Assignment: Write a 3-5 page paper, in which you detail how your novel type has changed over a period of 100-150 years. Try to include as many of the elements of fiction as you can--shape of the plot, narrative voice, gender differences as they relate to "public" versus "private," types of conflict, resolutions of those conflicts, themes, images, symbols, etc. (75 points). Post it to Blackboard Digital Drop Box by 4 p.m. on Friday, November 3.

Week Eleven—(November 6)

During this week, read novel 5 (from the 20th century). We will not meet, but conferences are welcome. Keep up to date on your journals.

Week Twelve—(November 13)

M - Lecture on Modernism and Post-Modernism.
W - Discussion. How do these cultural paradigms apply to your novel? Are our novel subgenres becoming more alike or more different?
F - No class. You should be working on your research paper by this time. Submit a preliminary bibliography to me by the time you go home for Thanksgiving vacation (50 points).

Week Thirteen—(November 20)

M - Conferences about your research paper.
W, F - ***Thanksgiving Break, November 21 - 26! Be safe going and coming back.

Week Fourteen—(November 27)

During this week, read novel 6 (20th/21st century). Journaling. No formal class. Work on your research papers.

Week Fifteen—(December 4)

M - Presentation of papers.
W - Presentation of papers.
F - Presentation of papers.

Week Sixteen—(December 11; EXAMS.)

Your research paper and your presentation will count as your exam. (Paper--200 points. Presentation--50 points.)