ENLT 242: British Literature – Romantic/Victorian
This course is offered roughly every other year, depending on department needs. Readings and assignments may vary by section.
Note: A custom anthology is required for this course and must be purchased through the bookstore; if you know someone who took ENLT 242 with Dr. Gangnes in a previous semester, their textbook may be sufficient, but you should compare its page numbering and contents with a classmate because readings sometimes change between semesters. Students are permitted to purchase/rent used copies or electronic versions of other course materials where available, as long as they are the same edition as shown in the bookstore. ISBN numbers are helpful here. Contact instructor if you’re unsure about the edition you plan to purchase.
Description
This course constitutes a study of major literary works from late-eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century Britain. These works include novels and novellas, short fiction, poetry, and non-fictional prose from the Romantic and Victorian periods. Our readings will cover major genres and cultural touchstones from 1789 through 1900, such as the Gothic, Aestheticism, and early science fiction, among others. Issues of race and ethnicity, class and labor, gender and sexuality, technology and industry, illness and medicine, and other social and historical concerns will guide our discussions of specific literary works. Though we will approach our readings chronologically, our goal will be to draw connections among these texts in an effort to gain a broader understanding of what Romantic and Victorian authors are conveying about their historical moment through literature, how their conversations can inform discussions of our own time, and which voices we may be marginalizing in our approach.
