English Literature of the Sixteenth Century

English 3123

Fall 2007

MWF 1:00-1:50 NB 2067

Dr. John Hodgson	NB 2033	581-2934	johnh@cameron.edu
Office Hours 10-12 Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment

Schedule

August

September

October

November

December

Final Exam

Course Description

This class is designed to provide you with an overview of the non-Shakespearean literature of the sixteenth century. Through these readings, we will continue to develop the techniques of literary analysis that are crucial to the English major.

 

Required Texts

Castiglione, The Book of the Courtier

Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's Holiday

Richard Hakluyt, Voyages and Discoveries

Thomas Kyd, The Spanish Tragedy

Christopher Marlowe, The Complete Plays

Michel deMontaigne, Essays

Sir Thomas More, Utopia

 

There will also be some required reading available at the library's circulation desk.

 

Grading

Daily Grade                           10%

Journals                                  15%

Analytical Essay                    15%

Midterm                                  15%

Research Essay                    25%

Final                                        20%

 

Daily Grade

Daily grades include quizzes, attendance, and participation.

 

Analytical Essay

A 4-5 page analysis of a topic relevant to the class.

 

Journals

Weekly 1-2 page short writing assignments on topics of your choosing. Journals will be due each Friday. You will be asked to read these aloud in class.

 

Midterm and Final Exams

The midterm and final exams will be in essay format, written in class.

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Research Essay

An 8-10 page essay on a critical controversy relevant to the class, using a combination of primary and secondary sources.

 

Academic Honesty

On page 3 of his book Doing Honest Work in College, Charles Lipson articulates three "bedrock principles" of academic honesty:

• When you say you did the work yourself, you actually did it;

• When you rely on someone else's work, you cite it. When you use their words, you quote them openly and accurately, and you cite them, too;

• When you present research materials, you present them fairly and truthfully.

I expect each student to adhere to each of these principles in his/her writing and presentations. If you have any doubts about how to give credit where credit is due, ASK.

 

Accommodation

It is the policy of Cameron University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law.  Students with disabilities who need classroom accommodations must make their requests by contacting the Office of Student Development at (580) 581-2209, North Shepler Room 314.

 

Other

Turn off beepers, cell phones, and other personal noisemakers before entering the class.

 

Tentative Schedule

This schedule is subject to change with appropriate notice. Notice of any changes will be given in class.

 

Complete all readings and assignments prior to the class date on which they are scheduled.

 

Date	Topic	Readings/Assignments
August
M 20	Course Introduction: Syllabus, Policies
W 22	Sixteenth Century--Background
F 24	More, Utopia
M 27	More, Utopia
W 29	More, Utopia
F 31	John Skelton, Poems (Xerox)
September
M 3	Labor Day	No Classes
W 5	Thomas Wyatt, poems (Xerox)
F 7	Earl of Surrey, poems (Xerox)
M 10	Castiglione, Book of the Courtier	Introduction and First Book
W 12	Castiglione, Book of the Courtier	Second Book
F 14	Castiglione, Book of the Courtier	Fourth Book
M 17	Montaigne, Essays
W 19	Montaigne, Essays
F 21	Montaigne, Essays
M 24	Thomas Kyd, The Spanish Tragedy
W 26	Thomas Kyd, The Spanish Tragedy
F 28	Thomas Kyd, The Spanish Tragedy	Analytical Essay Due
October
M 1	John Lyly, Galathea (Xerox)
W 3	John Lyly, Galathea
F 5	John Lyly, Galathea
M 8	Midterm	Midterm Exam in class
W 10	Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine Part 1
F 12	Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine Part 1
M 15	Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine Part 2
W 17	Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine Part 2
F 19	Fall Break
M 22	Voyages and Discoveries
W 24	Voyages and Discoveries
F 26	Voyages and Discoveries
M 29	Spenser, The Faerie Queene (Xerox)
W 31	Spenser, The Faerie Queene
November
F 2	Spenser, The Faerie Queene
M 5	Spenser, The Faerie Queene
W 7	Spenser, The Faerie Queene
F 9	Spenser, The Faerie Queene
M 12	Sidney, Arcadia (Xerox)
W 14	Sidney, Arcadia
F 16	Statehood day--whatever the heck that is	No classes
M 19	Sidney, Defense of Poesy (Xerox)
W 21	Workshop papers Yes, we have class today--see Friday 16 November, above	First Draft of Research Essay due
F 23	Thanksgiving Holiday	No classes
M 26	Marlowe, Hero and Leander
W 28	Marlowe, Hero and Leander
F 30	Dekker, The Shoemaker's Holiday
December
M 3	Dekker, The Shoemaker's Holiday
W 5	Dekker, The Shoemaker's Holiday
F 7	Conclusion	Research Essay Due
M 10	Review for Final Exam
F 14	Final Exam 3:00-5:00 p.m.