In this course we will explore literary representations of
the heroic in early British literature. At the beginning of the course we will
try to come up with a working definition of what constitutes heroism for the
early Anglo-Saxons writers. As we move into later periods we will trace how the
heroic changes over time and speculate about the historical, cultural, and
social factors that contributed to that change. Of particular interest will be
literary works that, rather than merely celebrating the heroic ideal, provide a
critical perspective that questions the codes and institutions that govern the
heroic.
The course is organized chronologically and will begin with the
Anglo-Saxons and Beowulf. After that
we will study selections from Chaucer’s Canterbury
Talesand other Middle English works, read some representative works from
the Elizabethan period, including plays by Shakespeare and Marlowe, and finish
with seventeenth century poets like Marvell and Milton. In addition to the
emphasis on the heroic, the course will introduce students to different
literary modes and forms including epic, romance, allegory, elegy, satire, and
drama.
Because this course fulfills the WI requirement, students
should expect to submit weekly reading responses, participate in peer review
workshops, and write four formal literary analyses. Other forms of assessment
include quizzes and a final exam. Class time will be spent on lectures, class
discussion, and supplementary audiovisual content.
Course Requirements
Attendance and participation
Laulima discussion posts
Four 4-page papers
Peer review workshops
Quizzes
Final exam
Required Texts (available at the UHM bookstore)
Volumes A & B of The Norton Anthology of English
Literature.Stephen Greenblatt et
al., eds. 9th ed. New York: Norton, 2012.