Brit Lit Survey Syllabus Spring 2022

Collage of images related to the course including portraits of Shakespeare and Marlowe. Knights, witches, and demons also depicted.

British Literature to 1700

ENGL 2310

CRN 27950

Spring 2022

Course Description

Why do we still revisit stories from centuries past? Do they still carry meaning now? In this course we will explore texts from across Britain's medieval period to 1700 and ask if, how, and why these texts have an enduring cultural relevance.

Split into three units, we will read Arthurian literature, explore the enduring relevance of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries, and examine how Queen Elizabeth I's identity has been constructed by her writing and the writing of others.

In each unit, we will connect the texts through creative-critical assignments to our own lives. In doing so, we will enter into a long tradition of making old stories new.

Instructor Name: Savannah Jensen
Pronouns: She/her
Email: Savannah.jensen@uga.edu
Office: Park Hall 10.5

Course Meeting Days: T/R
Course Time: 12:45 -2:00 pm
Course Location: Park Hall 139

Student Hours:
Tuesdays: 11:00 - 12:30 pm
Thursdays: 11:00 - 12:30 pm

Appointments at Other Times Welcome!

Accessibility Statement

I am committed to creating a learning environment that is accessible as possible. If, at any point in the term, you find yourself not able to fully access the space, content, and / or experiences of this course, please contact me so we can explore accommodation options together.

If you have a disability, or think you may have a disability, I also encourage you to contact the Disability Resource Center. (https://drc.uga.edu/). If you have already been approved for accommodations through the DRC, please meet with me so we can develop an implementation plan together.

If you or someone you know is in need of support, here is a list of UGA and Athens based resources for health, mental health, financial insecurity, and more.

Teams

During each unit you will be placed in a team of four to five students in Units 1 & 3 and a larger team for Unit 2. Teams will sit next to each other in assigned seating. Your team will act as your support network over the course of the semester. Team members will take group reading quizzes together and provide peer review for major projects. Teams are encouraged to get each other's contact information in case of absences.

Course Learning Goals

Students will gain an understanding of how culture and history affect the creation of texts.

Students will develop an opinion on what it means for a text to be canonical and express that opinion in their reflective writing.

By authoring creative projects, successful learners will reflect on how factors of historical moment, authorial identity, and genre affect the writing process.

By posting on weekly forums and giving feedback to peers, successful learners will reflect on the collaborative nature of writing across genres.

Discord and ELC

In this course we will be using two learning management systems, ELC and Discord.

ELC will hold the syllabus, grades, and reading materials for the course. It will also be the place where you submit final versions of your major projects. In other words, it will hold all of our static material.

We'll use Discord as our primary communication platform. It will act as a dynamic extension of the classroom space. We'll use it to post weekly discussions and drafts of assignments as well as a space to post questions about the course.

Join the Discord here: https://discord.gg/2UhSTkpRg7

Course Texts in Order of Reading:
The Longman Anthology of British Literature. 4th Edition. Volume 1A. ISBN-10: 0205655300 (Amazon Price $59.95; AbeBooks $2)

Eric S. Mallin and Paul V. Sullivan's Stages of Power: Marlowe and Shakespeare, 1592. Reacting Consortium Press. ISBN 978-4696-3144-8 (Amazon Price $30, Kindle $9.99)

William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. Folger Shakespeare Library Edition. ISBN 11982156899. (Amazon Price $9.99)

Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Revels Student Edition. ISBN 0719081998. (Amazon Price $11.99)

John Lyly's Galatea. Revels Student Edition. ISBN 0719088054. (Amazon Price $7.61)

Susan Doran's Queen Elizabeth I. ISBN 0712348026. (Amazon Price $13.95. Also seen for less on Abebooks.com)

Elizabeth I's Collected Works. ISBN 0226504654. (Amazon Price $20.31)

Learn More About Student Discounts (Including Amazon Prime) here.

Academic Honesty
As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic honesty policy, “A Culture of Honesty,” and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the standards described in “A Culture of Honesty” found at: https://ovpi.uga.edu/academic-honesty/academic-honesty-policy.

Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.

Attendance Policy:

Because this class is heavily based in discussion and interaction with your classmates, your academic success and the success of the class is heavily dependent on your attendance.

I encourage you to attend as many classes as possible. But if you are not feeling well mentally or physically, do take time off to recover. Keep in contact with me and your teammates through Discord or other channels to keep up in the class.

While there is no official penalty for absence, I will be keeping track of your attendance through team quizzes. Because team quizzes are designed to be taken together at the beginning of class and are used to clarify questions before beginning class discussion, quizzes cannot be made up in the case of absence or late attendance. If I noticed sustained absences, I will contact you to check in on you and make sure you are ok.