230271 The History of British Literature to 1800 (S) (WiSe 2005/2006)

This class will look at the major English language texts and periods in the history of British literature, starting with the Old English period and ending in the late 18th century with the Pre-Romantic writers.

Sessions will be divided between the discussion of the set text (which I recommend students to read in the long vacation, for details see below) and the close reading of selected passages from primary literature, which will be made available in a Reader.

A special focus will be on two major periods that have been particularly rich in, and characteristic of, British literature: Ricardian Poetry (late 14th century) and Elizabethan and Jacobean literature (late 16th and early 17th century).

Credits and Requirements:
All students are expected to offer active and regular participation. In addition, they will write two brief reports summarising German-language texts, one on British history, the other on British literature, which exercise will give them valuable practice for the Proficiency Test, where an English-language summary of a German text is required.

Set Text:

Pat Rogers ed., The Oxford Illustrated History of English Literature. OUP 1987; chapters one and three to five. This edition will be used in class.

There is also an edition without illustrations, P. Rogers ed., An Outline of English Literature. OUP 1992.