Spring 2021

Comparative study of major works from Europe and the Americas from the Enlightenment to the contemporary period, emphasizing literary, cultural, and philosophical movements, genres, and forms. Covering approximately 300 years of literary history, this course will stress both breadth and depth: while this is a survey of the Western tradition that aims at giving students a broad knowledge of movements, genres, and styles that have characterized literature and the related arts in the modern period, it is also a chance to read closely. Our goal is not simply overview, but engagement with the individual texts to draw out the nuances of language, to pay attention to voice and forms of expression; to think about philosophy, history, aesthetics, and ethics. Discussion sections, formal written work, and quizzes will help hone your skills as close readers of texts as well as to give you a chance to put that close reading into the broader literary-historical context. This course fulfills the Advanced Composition requirement, through emphasis on both formal and informal writing.