Dr.

Christoph Greger
English 46B
Spring 2019

A Schedule of Reading Assignments

(Subject to revisions, clarifications, addendum,
etc.)

Mon 1/14: Introductions. We’ll go over class policies.

Wed 1/19: Today we’ll set some contexts, reviewing some of the historical and cultural
aspects of the period known as “the Restoration” in England.

Part 1: Rakes, Harlots & Pious People

Fri 1/18: For today, please read all the poems in the handout by John Wilmot, Earl of
Rochester (and notorious rake). Consider: how, in these poems, is love
characterized? What is the relationship between libertinism and the kind of
nihilism he expresses in some of his poems?

Extra Credit Assignment. There’s a movie treatment of Rochester’s life, in

which our hero is played by Johnny Depp himself. Watch The Libertine (2004)
and consider how the film’s depiction of the man relates, if at all, to the poetry
you’ve read. Warning – you may need kind of a strong stomach.

Mon 1/21: Holiday -- MLK Day Observed.

Wed 1/23: Today we’ll begin discussing William Wycherley’s play “The Country Wife.” To
prepare, please have read the first act of the play. Consider, among other things:
who has our sympathy? Who are the “heroes” of the play? What sorts of values
does the play make fun of? What are the roles of women in the play?

Fri 1/25: Today we’ll finish up with “The Country Wife.”

Extra Credit Assignment: Interestingly, Restoration sex comedies seemed to

enjoy a renaissance of sorts in American popular culture during the 1970s in
particular. Two examples were based specifically on Wycherley’s The Country
Wife. Watch a couple of episodes of the excruciating sitcom Three’s Company or
the 1975 Warren Beatty film Shampoo; discuss parallels with Wycherly’s The
Country Wife.

Mon 1/28: Today we’ll get our feet wet in Daniel Defoe’s strange novel Roxana. Please
read up to page 58 or so, where the poor widow Roxana begins to be courted by a
French prince. As you read, keep note of places in which Roxana (or someone
else) behaves in a surprising or unexpected way.
Wed 1/30: More on Defoe’s Roxana. Read up to page 161 or so, focusing especially on
Roxana’s discussion with the Dutch merchant as to her refusal to marry him
(from around pp. 141 to 161). She’s about to set out in life as a professional
courtesan. To what extent do you sympathize with her, and to what extent do you
judge her actions?

Fri 2/1: Today we’ll finish up with Roxana. Finish the book and savor the bizarre climax.
Think hard about two characters in particular: Amy and Susan. Who, exactly,
are they?

Mon 2/4: Today we’ll be looking at a very different kind of novel: Samuel Richardson’s
groundbreaking (and immensely popular) work Pamela. We’re not reading the
entire (very long) thing; I’ll be providing you with a handout covering the first 60
pages or so. As you read, remember that we get most of the story from Pamela’s
perspective. Look for places in which you might be a little skeptical of her
representation of events.

Wed 2/6: More on Pamela.

Fri 2/8: Today we’ll finish up Pamela and begin looking at two sets of engravings by
probably the first graphic novelist, William Hogarth (handouts): A Rake’s
Progress and A Harlot’s Progress.

Extra Credit Assignment: Look carefully at Hogarth’s popular series of

engravings, “A Rake’s Progress” and “A Harlot’s Progress.” How does Hogarth
comment on (and compare/contrast) to the rakes and harlots we’ve read about in
Richardson, Defoe, Wycherly & etc?

Mon 2/11: Catch up day, more on Hogarth.

Part 2: The Age of Reason and the Irrational

Wed 2/13: Today we end our little section on “Whores, Rakes and Pious Folk” and begin
our next unit, which might be called “The Age of Reason (and the Irrational).”
We begin by discussing that most reasonable of genres, Satire. Read Swift’s “A
Modest Proposal” (handout).

Fri 2/15-Mon 2/18: Holidays! Lincoln and Washington’s Birthdays Observed.

Wed 2/20: For today please read Alexander Pope’s “Essay on Criticism” (in the Dover
edition, pp. 4-23). Concentrate on Part 1 (the part I’ll hold you responsible for on
an exam), and make a few notes on the question: what qualities does Pope see as
the most important in art?

Fri 2/22: For today, read Pope’s “Essay on Man,” focusing on Epistle 1. Take a few notes
on the question: what view of “the universe” does Pope espouse here? Can you
see any connections between it and his view on great art in his “Essay on
Criticism?” I’ll collect your notes on Pope, today.
Mon 2/25: For today, read the selections from Addison & Steele I gave you in the handout.

Extra Credit Assignment: During this period in London a new drink became
extremely popular: coffee. New trading networks and the burgeoning British
Empire made the drink widely available, and coffee houses quickly sprang up all
over London. Much business, journalism and writing took place in these new
institutions. Many argue, in fact, that coffee was integral to the development of
an “Age of Reason,” especially since coffee houses were replacing Gin houses as
social meeting places (as a thought experiment, consider a group of reform-
minded journalists arguing over coffee, and then consider them doing the same
thin over gin. What would the difference in subsequent writing be?). Do a little
research on coffee houses in the 18th century and report – especially as connected
to the new journalism, epitomized by Addison and Steele.

Wed 2/27: For today, read the selections of Samuel Johnson that I gave you in the handout.

Fri 3/1: For today, read about Edmund Burke’s “Theory of the Sublime” from the
material in the handout I gave you. Take a few notes addressing how Burke’s
theory of art compares/contrasts to Pope’s. What is the “sublime?” How does he
distinguish it from the “beautiful?”

Mon 3/4: For today, read the first half of Walpole’s crazy novel, The Castle of Otranto.
Think of it in terms of Burke’s theory of the Sublime. Do you see any
intersections?

Wed 3/6: Due today: Paper #1. For today, finish up The Castle of Otranto.

Fri 3/8: Review for the midterm exam.

Mon 3/11: Midterm Exam.