English 331:  English Authors after 1800   

Blake and Romanticism

Stephen C. Behrendt
319 Andrews; 472-1806
office: 11-12 and 2-3 TR
and by appointment
email Dr. Behrendt

Required Texts:

Blake's Poetry and Designs, 2nd edition, ed. Mary Lynn Johnson and John E. Grant
Martin Myrone, The Blake Book

Recommended Optional Text:

William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books, ed. David Bindman

Tentative Schedule:

―Page numbers refer to Blake’s Poetry and Designs, ed. Johnson and Grant, 2nd ed.―

Jan 13  T  Introduction to the course, the subject and its historical and cultural contexts
                Introduction to resources for research and study

      15  R Historical, cultural, and biographical background
                   Begin reading Smith (500-04), Tatham (504-10), Robinson (510-14) and Palmer (514-17)
_____

      20  T  British visual art, 1750-1800, including West, Reynolds, Barry, Fuseli
                   Read Blake’s annotations to Reynolds (461-65)

      22  R  British caricatures, 1750-1800, including Rowlandson, Gillray
_____

      27  T  Blake, selections from Poetical Sketches (355-60)

      29  R  Blake, An Island in the Moon (360-77)
_____

Feb  3  T  Children’s books and poetry for children, 1750-1800

        5  R  Songs of Innocence and of Experience 1
                   Read Viscomi (541-46), Coleridge (498-500)
_____

      10  T  Songs 2
                    Read Ginsberg (519-23)

      12  R  Songs 3
                    Read Behrendt (547-54)
_____

      17  T  Songs 4

      19  R  Songs, 5
_____

      24  T  The Book of Thel (48-54)

      26  R  Visions of the Daughters of Albion (55-65)
                    Read Ostriker (560-71)
_____

Mar  3  T  America: A Prophecy
                      Read Makdisi (576-83)

        5  R  America
_____

      10  T  Europe: A Prophecy
                     Read Wright (583-86)
      12  R  Europe
_____

      17  T  The Song of Los, The Book of Urizen, The Book of Ahania, The Book of Los (107-44)

      19  R  as above
                     Read Eaves (586-90), Frye (524-36)
_____

March 22 – 29 Spring Break
_____

      31  T  British art 1800-20, including Fuseli, Haydon, Martin

Apr   2  R  Blake’s paintings and the public culture
                      Read from Descriptive Catalogue (423-32 ), A Vision of the Last Judgment (432--39), Public Address ( 439-45)
                      Read Hunt (497-98)
_____

        7  T  A week for catching up
        9  R
_____

      14  T  Milton 1

      16  R  Milton 2
                     Read Bloom (590-91), DeLuca (591-98)
_____

      21  T  Student presentations 1

      23  R  Student presentations 2
_____

      27  T  Student presentations 3

      29  R  Conclusion: summing it all up, evaluations, tearful farewells

The Final Examination is scheduled for 10 -12 noon, Friday, 8 May, which is the very last examination period. We will discuss this terrible option and probably negotiate an alternative arrangement that will be agreeable to everyone.