ENGL 523: Major Works of John Milton
Professor: E. Derek Taylor
Fall 2015
Office: Grainger 306
Office Hours: MW 10:00 and 3:00; F 10:00 and by appointment
Phone: 395-2748
e-mail: [email protected]
ENGL 423. Major Figures in Poetry. Extended study in the work of from one to three major English or American writers. May be repeated for credit when topic changes. WP and SP
Texts:
Milton, John. The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton. Ed. William
Kerrigan, John Rumrich, and Stephen M. Fallon. New York: Modern Library, 2007.
Course Objectives: This course has three primary objectives:
1. Exposure. Students will read a wide variety of Milton’s poetic and prose works, including the whole of arguably the most important poem written in English, the epic Paradise Lost. The reading will be challenging, engaging, baffling, and mesmerizing, sometimes all at once.
2. Participation. The success of the class will depend in large part upon whether or not students come prepared to discuss ideas, questions, annoyances, or delights elicited by the readings. To this end, I will quiz regularly throughout the semester.
3. Articulation.
* Beginning with Paradise Lost (week 3), each class will begin with a student reading out loud a favorite passage from the day’s assignment. We’ll move alphabetically by last name, so each student will read several times during the semester. These readings should be “clean”—which means rehearsed—and students should be prepared to explain the reasons behind his or her selection and to point to at least one noteworthy aspect of the passage in question.
* In weeks 6, 10, and 13, students will write an in-class essay (roughly 500 words each); prompts and grading rubrics will be posted on my website one week in advance.
* A final research essay that expands on or follows from one of the three in-class essays (2500 words--roughly ten pages) will be due on Wednesday of week 16. While students will have significant leeway in choosing topics and theoretical approaches, the result in each case should be a thoughtfully researched, carefully constructed, thesis-directed study of some aspect of Milton’s achievement as a writer. A more specific topic sheet and a grading rubric will be posted on my website no later than week 13.
* A comprehensive final examination will require students to analyze important textual passages discussed during the semester and to recall key words, concepts, and points of information from their notes.
Grades:
* Weekly Reading Quizzes: 30%
* In-class Essays (three total; each worth 5%): 15%
* Research essay (eight pages; due 12-9): 20%
* Final Exam (12-7): 30%
* Participation: 5%
Attendance, Tardiness, Late Papers, Plagiarism:
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. ONLY illness, official university business, and emergencies permit the make-up of work missed, and all such absences must be documented. Unexcused absences totaling 10% or more of class meetings will result in a one letter grade penalty; absences totaling 25% or more, excused or otherwise, will result in an F for the course.
Late work will not be accepted in this class. Turn in papers on time, and be in class on the day of all exams. Students may not make up missed quizzes.
Honor Code:
All work is governed by the Longwood University Honor Code. Written work must contain the pledge in writing and be signed. Students should read closely the section on plagiarism in the Longwood Style Manual.
Class Schedule: (I reserve the right to make changes to this schedule by giving oral notification in class. Absence from one class is never an excuse for being unprepared for subsequent classes.)
Week 1
M. 8-24. Introduction to Course
W. 8-26. Selected Poems: “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity,” “The Passion,” and “Upon the Circumcision”
F. 8-28. Selected Poems: “L’Allegro,” “Il Penseroso,” and “Lycidas”
Week 2
M. 8-31. A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634 [Comus]
W. 9-2 Sonnets 7, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23
F. 9-4. Selections from Eikonklastes (1056-1068)
Week 3
M. 9-7. Class Canceled for Labor Day
W. 9-9. Paradise Lost, front matter (p. 291) and Book 1, lines 1-330.
F. 9-11. Paradise Lost, Book 1, lines 330-end.
Week 4
M. 9-14. Selections from The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates (1021-1055)
W. 9-16. Paradise Lost, Book 2, lines 1-505.
F. 9-18. Paradise Lost, Book 2, lines 506-end.
Week 5
M. 9-21. Selections from Christian Doctrine: Introduction (1137-39) and “Of Predestination” (1159-1171)
W. 9-23. Paradise Lost, Book 3, lines 1-371.
F. 9-25. Paradise Lost, Book 3, lines 372-end.
Week 6
M. 9-28. In-class Essay 1
W. 9-30. Paradise Lost, Book 4, lines 1-535.
F. 10-2. Paradise Lost, Book 4, lines 536-end. (Thompson)
Week 7
M. 10-5. Paradise Lost, Book 5, lines 1-505
W. 10-7. Paradise Lost, Book 5, lines 506-end
F. 10-9. Paradise Lost, Book 6, lines 1-445
Week 8
M. 10-12. Class Canceled for Fall Break
W. 10-14. “Of the Son of God,” pp. 1172-1175; Paradise Lost, Book 6, lines 446-end
F. 10-16. “Of the Creation,” pp. 1196-1209
Week 9
M. 10-19. Paradise Lost, Book 7
W. 10-21. Paradise Lost, Book 8
F. 10-24. Excerpt from Areopagitica (923-940)
Week 10
M. 10-27. In-class Essay 2
W. 10-28. Class Canceled
F. 10-30. Paradise Lost, Book 9, lines 1-630 (Kirkpatrick)
Week 11
M. 11-2. Excerpt from Selections from Christian Doctrine “Of the Fall of our First Parents,
and of Sin” (1235-1240); Paradise Lost, Book 9, lines 630-end. (Smith)
W. 11-4. Selections from The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce (853-856; 871-880); Paradise Lost, Book 10, lines 1-640 (Thompson)
F. 11-6. Paradise Lost, Book 10, lines 641-end (Taylor)
Week 12
M. 11-9. Excerpts from Selections from Christian Doctrine “Of the Punishment of Sin” and
“Of the Death which is Called the Death of the Body” (1240-1251)
W. 11-11. Paradise Lost, Book 11
F. 11-13. Class Canceled (SAMLA Annual Conference)
Week 13
M. 11-16. Paradise Lost, Book 12
W. 11-18. The Ready and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth (1111-1136)
F. 11-20. In-class Essay 3
Week 14
M. 11-23. Class Canceled for Mandatory Individual Conferences
W. 11-25. Class Canceled for Thanksgiving Holiday
F. 11-27. Class Canceled for Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15
M. 11-30. Class Canceled for Mandatory Individual Conferences
W. 12-2. Class Canceled for Mandatory Individual Conferences
F. 12-4. Class Presentations (five minutes each). You will read the first two pages of your Research Essay and discuss briefly your plan for what comes next.
Week 16
M. 12-7. Final Examination (take-home). I will email the exam to you before 8:00 am; you will email an electronic copy (Word file, please) back to me no later than 5:00 pm. You have 2 and 1/2 hours to complete the exam--and you are, of course, on your honor when it comes to outside materials, so pay CLOSE attention to specific instructions for each section of the exam. Be sure to fill in the "time started" and "time finished" sections.
W. 12-9. Research Essay due (bring to my office between 10:00 am and noon).
Professor: E. Derek Taylor
Fall 2015
Office: Grainger 306
Office Hours: MW 10:00 and 3:00; F 10:00 and by appointment
Phone: 395-2748
e-mail: [email protected]
ENGL 423. Major Figures in Poetry. Extended study in the work of from one to three major English or American writers. May be repeated for credit when topic changes. WP and SP
Texts:
Milton, John. The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton. Ed. William
Kerrigan, John Rumrich, and Stephen M. Fallon. New York: Modern Library, 2007.
Course Objectives: This course has three primary objectives:
1. Exposure. Students will read a wide variety of Milton’s poetic and prose works, including the whole of arguably the most important poem written in English, the epic Paradise Lost. The reading will be challenging, engaging, baffling, and mesmerizing, sometimes all at once.
2. Participation. The success of the class will depend in large part upon whether or not students come prepared to discuss ideas, questions, annoyances, or delights elicited by the readings. To this end, I will quiz regularly throughout the semester.
3. Articulation.
* Beginning with Paradise Lost (week 3), each class will begin with a student reading out loud a favorite passage from the day’s assignment. We’ll move alphabetically by last name, so each student will read several times during the semester. These readings should be “clean”—which means rehearsed—and students should be prepared to explain the reasons behind his or her selection and to point to at least one noteworthy aspect of the passage in question.
* In weeks 6, 10, and 13, students will write an in-class essay (roughly 500 words each); prompts and grading rubrics will be posted on my website one week in advance.
* A final research essay that expands on or follows from one of the three in-class essays (2500 words--roughly ten pages) will be due on Wednesday of week 16. While students will have significant leeway in choosing topics and theoretical approaches, the result in each case should be a thoughtfully researched, carefully constructed, thesis-directed study of some aspect of Milton’s achievement as a writer. A more specific topic sheet and a grading rubric will be posted on my website no later than week 13.
* A comprehensive final examination will require students to analyze important textual passages discussed during the semester and to recall key words, concepts, and points of information from their notes.
Grades:
* Weekly Reading Quizzes: 30%
* In-class Essays (three total; each worth 5%): 15%
* Research essay (eight pages; due 12-9): 20%
* Final Exam (12-7): 30%
* Participation: 5%
Attendance, Tardiness, Late Papers, Plagiarism:
Students are expected to attend classes regularly. ONLY illness, official university business, and emergencies permit the make-up of work missed, and all such absences must be documented. Unexcused absences totaling 10% or more of class meetings will result in a one letter grade penalty; absences totaling 25% or more, excused or otherwise, will result in an F for the course.
Late work will not be accepted in this class. Turn in papers on time, and be in class on the day of all exams. Students may not make up missed quizzes.
Honor Code:
All work is governed by the Longwood University Honor Code. Written work must contain the pledge in writing and be signed. Students should read closely the section on plagiarism in the Longwood Style Manual.
Class Schedule: (I reserve the right to make changes to this schedule by giving oral notification in class. Absence from one class is never an excuse for being unprepared for subsequent classes.)
Week 1
M. 8-24. Introduction to Course
W. 8-26. Selected Poems: “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity,” “The Passion,” and “Upon the Circumcision”
F. 8-28. Selected Poems: “L’Allegro,” “Il Penseroso,” and “Lycidas”
Week 2
M. 8-31. A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634 [Comus]
W. 9-2 Sonnets 7, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23
F. 9-4. Selections from Eikonklastes (1056-1068)
Week 3
M. 9-7. Class Canceled for Labor Day
W. 9-9. Paradise Lost, front matter (p. 291) and Book 1, lines 1-330.
F. 9-11. Paradise Lost, Book 1, lines 330-end.
Week 4
M. 9-14. Selections from The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates (1021-1055)
W. 9-16. Paradise Lost, Book 2, lines 1-505.
F. 9-18. Paradise Lost, Book 2, lines 506-end.
Week 5
M. 9-21. Selections from Christian Doctrine: Introduction (1137-39) and “Of Predestination” (1159-1171)
W. 9-23. Paradise Lost, Book 3, lines 1-371.
F. 9-25. Paradise Lost, Book 3, lines 372-end.
Week 6
M. 9-28. In-class Essay 1
W. 9-30. Paradise Lost, Book 4, lines 1-535.
F. 10-2. Paradise Lost, Book 4, lines 536-end. (Thompson)
Week 7
M. 10-5. Paradise Lost, Book 5, lines 1-505
W. 10-7. Paradise Lost, Book 5, lines 506-end
F. 10-9. Paradise Lost, Book 6, lines 1-445
Week 8
M. 10-12. Class Canceled for Fall Break
W. 10-14. “Of the Son of God,” pp. 1172-1175; Paradise Lost, Book 6, lines 446-end
F. 10-16. “Of the Creation,” pp. 1196-1209
Week 9
M. 10-19. Paradise Lost, Book 7
W. 10-21. Paradise Lost, Book 8
F. 10-24. Excerpt from Areopagitica (923-940)
Week 10
M. 10-27. In-class Essay 2
W. 10-28. Class Canceled
F. 10-30. Paradise Lost, Book 9, lines 1-630 (Kirkpatrick)
Week 11
M. 11-2. Excerpt from Selections from Christian Doctrine “Of the Fall of our First Parents,
and of Sin” (1235-1240); Paradise Lost, Book 9, lines 630-end. (Smith)
W. 11-4. Selections from The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce (853-856; 871-880); Paradise Lost, Book 10, lines 1-640 (Thompson)
F. 11-6. Paradise Lost, Book 10, lines 641-end (Taylor)
Week 12
M. 11-9. Excerpts from Selections from Christian Doctrine “Of the Punishment of Sin” and
“Of the Death which is Called the Death of the Body” (1240-1251)
W. 11-11. Paradise Lost, Book 11
F. 11-13. Class Canceled (SAMLA Annual Conference)
Week 13
M. 11-16. Paradise Lost, Book 12
W. 11-18. The Ready and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth (1111-1136)
F. 11-20. In-class Essay 3
Week 14
M. 11-23. Class Canceled for Mandatory Individual Conferences
W. 11-25. Class Canceled for Thanksgiving Holiday
F. 11-27. Class Canceled for Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15
M. 11-30. Class Canceled for Mandatory Individual Conferences
W. 12-2. Class Canceled for Mandatory Individual Conferences
F. 12-4. Class Presentations (five minutes each). You will read the first two pages of your Research Essay and discuss briefly your plan for what comes next.
Week 16
M. 12-7. Final Examination (take-home). I will email the exam to you before 8:00 am; you will email an electronic copy (Word file, please) back to me no later than 5:00 pm. You have 2 and 1/2 hours to complete the exam--and you are, of course, on your honor when it comes to outside materials, so pay CLOSE attention to specific instructions for each section of the exam. Be sure to fill in the "time started" and "time finished" sections.
W. 12-9. Research Essay due (bring to my office between 10:00 am and noon).