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)
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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)
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17 T Songs 4
19 R Songs, 5
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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
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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.