ENGL 329 A: Rise of the English Novel

Spring 2023
Meeting:
TTh 12:30pm - 2:20pm / CDH 125
SLN:
14177
Section Type:
Lecture
Instructor:
ADD CODE FROM INSTRUCTOR PD 3
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

English 329--The Rise of the English Novel

Professor Staten

Padelford 409B

Office hours:  10-11 M-W and by appointment

The literary super-genre we call the novel is a product of modernity.  The rise of the novel is associated with the rise of the bourgeoisie, which began to take on its distinctive modern form in the 18th century.  Before this time, both society and literature were dominated by the aristocracy, and there was no serious literary form that represented the lives of the lower classes.  By the 18th century, however, the bourgeoisie, that is, the capitalist class, which had begun to develop in the Middle Ages, had become numerous and powerful enough that it began to generate its own self-representation in literature, in the form of the novel.  The novel represented the daily life, activities, and concerns of this new “middle” class between the aristocracy and the peasantry—concerns which predominantly involved money and marriage. 

There is no single work that can be called “the first novel,” or even “the first English novel,” because the “novel” is an ill-defined literary form; but we will start with Robinson Crusoe (1719), by Daniel Defoe, which is as good a place as any.  We will also read Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded (1740)by Samuel Richardson,  The Castle of Otranto (1764), by Thomas Walpole; Evelina (1778), by Frances Burney; and Emma (1815), by Jane Austen.  Austen represents the "maturity" of the novel form, so it's a good place to end this survey.  The Castle of Otranto is an exception to what I said above about the concerns of the novel.  It’s the first “Gothic novel,” and concerns ghosts, a castle, and a maiden in distress who must be saved by a valiant knight.  It’s the precursor of such modern narratives as that of the original Star Wars, and of many horror movies and ghost stories.

You will be asked to write a 4-5 page mid-term paper and a 4-5 page final.  In addition, there will be an undetermined number of unannounced reading quizzes.  The two papers will each count one third of your grade, the reading quizzes one sixth, and participation/attendance the final one sixth. Your first paper will be due May 5, with a grace period of one week; your final will be due on Wednesday of exam week, June 5, with a grace period of three days (till Saturday, June 8).

It's very important that you order the specific editions below, because otherwise you will have different page numbers than I and your classmates do, and you won't be able to follow the text as we discuss it in class.  This class will involve a great deal of close attention to specific passages in class, so having the right edition is very important.  I've ordered the cheapest editions I could find.

 

Texts:

 

Pamela, by Samuel Richardson.  Oxford World's Classics 2001 (2008 reissue)

978-0-19-953649-8

 

Evelina, by Fanny Burney.  Dover Thrift Eds. 2015

978-0-486-79626-0

 

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe.  Penguin, 2003

978-0141439822

 

The Castle of Otranto, by Horace Walpole.  Oxford World's Classics, 2014

978-0-19-870444-7

 

Emma, by Jane Austen.  Oxford, 2022

978-0-19-883775-6

 

 

Reading schedule:

I’m scheduling two weeks for each novel, which means four class sessions, which in turn means you should read at least ¼ of each novel for each class session.  Since some of you will doubtless have different editions that those above, this will mean a different number of pages for you.  I leave it to you to calculate the number of pages that add up to ¼ of your own text.

Robinson Crusoe: March 28, 30, April 4, 6

Pamela: April 11, 13, 18, 20

Castle of Otranto: April 25, 27; May 2, 4

Evelina: May 9, 11, 16, 18

Emma:  May 23, 25, 30, June 1

Exam week: June 3-9. 

Religious Accommodations 

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).
 
Access and Accommodations:

It is the policy and practice of the University of Washington to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. If you have already established accommodations with Disability Resources for Students (DRS), please activate your accommodations via myDRS so we can discuss how they will be implemented in this course.

If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations (conditions include but not limited to; mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health impacts), contact DRS directly to set up an Access Plan. DRS facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations. Contact DRS at disability.uw.edu.

Academic Integrity

The University takes academic integrity very seriously. Behaving with integrity is part of our responsibility to our shared learning community. If you’re uncertain about if something is academic misconduct, ask me. I am willing to discuss questions you might have.

Acts of academic misconduct may include but are not limited to:

  • Cheating (working collaboratively on quizzes/exams and discussion submissions, sharing answers and previewing quizzes/exams)
  • Plagiarism (representing the work of others as your own without giving appropriate credit to the original author(s))
  • Unauthorized collaboration (working with each other on assignments)

Concerns about these or other behaviors prohibited by the Student Conduct Code will be referred for investigation and adjudication by (include information for specific campus office).

Students found to have engaged in academic misconduct may receive a zero on the assignment (or other possible outcome).

 

Campus Writing Centers 

The Odegaard Writing and Research Center (OWRC) offers free, one-to-one, 45-minute tutoring sessions for undergraduate, graduate, and professional writers in all fields at the UW. We will work with writers on any writing or research project, as well as personal projects such as applications or personal statements. Our tutors and librarians collaborate with writers at any stage of the writing and research process, from brainstorming and identifying sources to drafting and making final revisions. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please see our website (https://depts.washington.edu/owrc), or come visit us in person on the first floor of Odegaard Undergraduate Library.

The CLUE Writing Center offers free one-on-one tutoring and workshops, and is open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday to Thursday in Mary Gates Hall, throughout the regular school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters). It's first come, first served — so arrive early and be prepared to wait if necessary! CLUE also offers tutoring on a range of other subjects, including math, science, and so on. Read more here: https://webster.uaa.washington.edu/asp/website/get-help/clue/writing-cen...

Campus safety 

Call SafeCampus at 206-685-7233 anytime – no matter where you work or study – to anonymously discuss safety and well-being concerns for yourself or others. SafeCampus’s team of caring professionals will provide individualized support, while discussing short- and long-term solutions and connecting you with additional resources when requested.

  • Campus safety guards can walk with you on campus after dark. Call Husky NightWalk 206-685-WALK (9255).

  • Stay connected in an emergency with UW Alert. Register your mobile number to receive instant notification of campus emergencies via text and voice messaging. Sign up online at www.washington.edu/alert.

For more information visit the SafeCampus website at www.washington.edu/safecampus.

Health and Wellness 

Health & Wellness provides support, advocacy, consultation, and education to the University of Washington campus community. Services are free for UW students, faculty, and staff. You can work with advocates on your behalf or on behalf of someone you know. Programs include Alcohol & Drug Consultation and Education, Suicide Intervention, Sexual Assault, Relationship Violence, Stalking and Harassment Advocacy, and Student Care Program. For more information: http://depts.washington.edu/livewell/

Catalog Description:
Traces the development of a major and popular modern literary genre - the novel. Readings survey forms of fiction including the picaresque, the gothic, the epistolary novel, and the romance. Authors range from Daniel Defoe to Jane Austen and beyond.
GE Requirements Met:
Arts and Humanities (A&H)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
October 5, 2024 - 9:47 pm