Analyze a poem (or a passage of 20-30 lines) from one of our post-1550 authors. (Choose a poem different from the one you examined in your second paper.) Compare the poem as it appears in the edition used in class (or in another modern edition) to the poem as it was first printed. (The purpose of this exercise is to understand and evaluate editorial intervention.)
Use all of the following research tools. Mark and attach photocopies and/or printouts so your Reader will not be forced to repeat your steps. Exceptions: 1) Use of microfilm is optional. 2) If printout of ODNB would be more than two pages, attach first and last page only.
Compare any poem (or work of prose) by Sidney to any poem (or work of prose) by one of our pre-1550 authors.
Exam will be in three parts: 1) Identifications (with explanations);
2) Metrical analysis; 3) Essay on some subject discussed in class.
Exam will last 50 minutes; class will reconvene for discussion of
Sidney Astrophel and Stella 72 to end.
Choose a poem from the anthology or from the internet (or other source) by Skelton, Wyatt or Surrey; the poem should not be one which has been studied at length in class. Analyze the poem in a paper of approximately 1000 words (4 pages) as follows:
Read "Certain Sonnets" pp. 14-41 in The Major Works; concentrate on Nos. 3, 4, 6, 8-11, 17, 23, 25, 26, 31, 32, and "The Lad Philisides" (pp. 38-41).
Instructions for Writing Papers
Departmental Policy on Plagiarism
English 115A The English Renaissance Spring 2005 Mr. Nelson (The 16th Century) 110 Barrows TTh 9:30-11:00 Tentative Reading List NB: Numbers refer to pages in the Norton Anthology (7th ed), vol. I. Week 1 Tu Jan 18 Introduction: historical scope; metrics Th 20 NA 469-98; Skelton (499-503); Wyatt poems except sonnets (525-37) Week 2 Tu 25 Castiglione, The Courtier, tr Sir Thomas Hoby (577-93) Th 27 Wyatt: Sonnets (527-9; also 'Stand whoso list,' 534) Week 3 Tu Feb 1 Surrey (569-77) Th 3 More, Utopia Week 4 Tu 8 ditto; History of King Richard III (523-6) Th 10 Roper, Sir Thomas More First paper due Week 5 Tu 15 Cavendish, Cardinal Wolsey Th 17 Sidney (909-11), Astrophil and Stella Week 6 Tu 22 ditto Th 24 Midterm Examination Week 7 Tu Mar 1 The Defense of Poesy Th 3 Poems (selection to be announced) Week 8 Tu 8 The Old Arcadia Th 10 The New Arcadia; letters Week 9 Tu 15 Spenser (614-6); The Shepheardes Calendar (617-22) Th 17 Amoretti (863-8) Second paper due SPRING BREAK 21-25 March Week 10 Tu 29 Epithalamion (868-78) Th Apr 31 Marlowe (970-1); Hero and Leander (971-9); poem (989-90) Week 11 Tu 5 Ralegh, Poems (878-88) Th 7 Other authors, works, and genres 539-67, 600-5, 955-69, 1196-1207) Week 12 Tu 12 ditto Th 14 ditto Week 13 Tu 19 Shakespeare (1026-7); songs (1067, 1095, 1105) Th 21 Sonnets (1028-43) Research (third) paper due Week 14 Tu 26 Donne (1233-5); Songs and Sonnets & Elegies(1236-57) Th 28 Holy Sonnets (1268-19) Week 15 Tu May 3 REVIEW WEEK Th 5 Final Examination: Tuesday, 17 May, 8-11 a.m. Notes on class business. 1) Students are expected to attend class regularly. Attendance will be taken at the instructor's discretion. Persistent absences will result in a reduction in the final grade. 2) Students are responsible for checking the Instructor's website at the beginning of the semester, and regularly throughout the semester. See particularly announcement concerning the Department of English policy on plagiarism; and instructions for writing papers.