English 2050107, 108: Studies in British Literature Fall Semester, 2012 Professor Paul Phelps Email: phelpspc@appstate.

edu Making Love: Amorous Verse in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries She is all states, and all princes I, Nothing else is. John Donne, The Sun Rising Course Description: This course will trace the development across the Renaissance of the theme of amorous devotion, paying particular attention to moments of physical (and metaphysical) love. This course is predominantly interested in an anachronism, attempting to determine how the phrase making-love resounded in the Renaissance and how our modern understanding of the phrase bears relevance to previous modes of thought, and vice versa. This is an apt focus for a course on the Renaissanceand especially a course on its poetryfor in the Renaissance conceptions of physical love and desire were often (if not always) imbricated into a discussion about the self and the soul. We will see, in fact, that the English Renaissance occurred, in a manner of speaking, because of amorous devotion and deflected or unfulfilled desire. The result of such beginnings was an unprecedented explosion of testing and retesting the conventional norms in the poetry and prose of the Renaissance. Our task in this class, then, will be to evaluate what we mean by the designation standard or standardized and then consider how the poetry we will encounter both defines and redefines that designation. I have divided the course into three unitsseduction, consummation, and desirethough it will become abundantly clear that these concepts are neither discrete nor static. Rather, they participate in, and thus are reconceived by, a cultural discourse that legitimates some acts and relationships while criminalizing and pathologizing others. Disclaimers: First, this is a reading intensive course. If you do not like to read and contemplate the meanings and significances of literary texts, this is not the course for you. Second, the focus of this course is on normative and counter-normative expressions of love and desire. If you find it difficult to discuss such things as sex and sexuality, especially those forms that might conflict with your personal beliefs, you might want to reconsider taking this course. We will discuss, for example, literary representations of homosexuality, bisexuality, and various forms of non-procreative sex. Of course, we will also cover more traditional topicsrequited love, marriage, familybut these topics will be interrogated rather than endorsed as some universal norm. If this focus has the potential to make you uncomfortable, please consider taking another course.

Texts: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume B: The Sixteenth Century, The Early Seventeenth Century (W W. Norton, 2005) 8th ed. Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, Books Three and Four, ed. D. Stephens (Hackett, 2006) REQUIREMENTS Explication Assignment Annotated Bibliography Midterm Exam Final Exam Participation ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES Once during the course of the semester you will have to produce an annotated bibliography. These bibliographies ought to reflect some depth of secondary critical research as well as your engagement with the current conversations about whichever text you choose. This means that youll have to go the library, consult secondary sources, read them, and produce annotations which both summarize and critique the arguments of these sources. For the purposes of this assignment, you will need to cite and annotate at least six secondary critical sources; I will not accept bibliographies with fewer citations. I am asking you to produce a bibliography in lieu of writing an essay in order to better prepare you for the sorts of research-oriented writing youll be asked to display in upperlevel courses. Your bibliography will be due on the date which you chose, and I will have an editable sign up sheet on asulearn very soon. Additionally, on the day that you are assigned to complete your bibliography, I will ask you to kick-off the discussion of the text in question, and this mini-presentation may constitute a portion of your overall grade on the project. I will accept complaints and solicitations for changing the date or the topic of your bibliography so long as you approach me about it during the two weeks of term. I will not accept any such solicitations after that point. EXPLICATION ASSIGNMENT: In addition to your bibliography, I will ask you once over the course of the semester to produce an explication of a poem (again of your choosing). These explications will follow a very strict form, as I will ask you to cover nine criteria for your chosen poem (title, form and figures of sound, imagery, figurative languagetropes, figurative languageironies, dramatic situations, diction, syntax, affinities, and a comment). The purpose of this is to help you learn how to read like you are a poet, to enable you to begin to see beyond the mere words on the page or the mere meanings those words signify. Poetry is so much more than that, especially if it is very good poetry. I will model this sort of analysis in class, almost on a daily basis, though if you need more help (outside of the rubric) I would suggest that you purchase a copy of Terry Eagletons How to Read a Poem (John Wily, 2006) and/or come see me during my office hours. I will expect these explications to be approximately 15% 15% 25% 30% 15%

2000 words in length (roughly five pages). If you write a fair paragraph or two on each criteria, then you will be well in this range. These explications will also be due on the date of your choosing, as per the asulearn sign up sheet. MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS The midterm and final exams will cover both the assigned reading and the class material (lectures, discussions, quizzes, handouts). The midterm will focus on content from the first half of the semester and will ask you to identify passages of poetry and comment on their significance to the class material. The midterm will also include an essay, topics for which I will disseminate approximately three weeks prior to the midterm. The final will ask you to explicate a piece of unseen poetry in class. To this end, you might consider working on your explication, or studying intently the comments which I return to you, as tantamount to your ability to succeed on the final. PARTICIPATION Participation is integral to the success of this class. Each student is expected to show up regularly and on time, to come prepared to ask and answer a range of questions about assigned reading, to participate routinely and constructively in class discussion, and to be a respectful member of class. If you show up but choose not to participate, you will make a C for this requirement. I realize that speaking in public is daunting to many people, but it is absolutely necessary that you try it again and again. Dont worry about having the right answer all the time (for one thing, there will be many instances in which there are many right answers); just do your best. If youve read and thought about the material under discussion, your contributions, including your questions and even mistakes, will be worthwhile. If, however, the prospect of speaking up in class is truly terrifying for you, I would encourage you to come speak to me. Occasionally (though perhaps not infrequently) I will give you reading quizzes, just to make sure that you are following along with the days assignments. These will be graded as either pass or fail, where a grade of fail will negatively impact your participation grade. If you take the time to read the text closely but find yourself performing poorly on the quizzes, see me so we can discuss what you might be doing wrong. It is imperative that you bring to class a hard copy of the assigned reading. If you come to class without a hard copy of the assigned reading, I will consider marking you absent. SCALE FOR ASSIGNMENTS Letter grades for all assignments are assigned point values (out of 100) according to this scale: A+ = 100 B+ = 88 C+ = 78 A = 95 B = 85 C = 75 A- = 92 B- = 82 C- = 72

D+ = 68 D = 65 SCALE FOR COURSE GRADES

D- =

The following scale will be used at the end of the semester to determine your grade for the course: A+= 100-98% B+ = 89-87% C+ = 79-77% D+ = 69-67% F = 59-0% INCOMPLETES An I (Incomplete) will be granted only on the rarest of occasions, when a student has completed nearly all of the course work but cannot, because of some unforeseen emergency, finish the class. An I will not be granted simply because youve had a rough semester. If you have any questions about this policy, see me SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR BIBLIOGRAPHIES As a rule, I do not accept digital copies of assignments. When assignments are due, you must bring me a hard copy. Do not attempt to email me your work. Work submitted by email, barring extenuating circumstances, will not be graded. Your bibliographies and explications will be due at the start of class on the day which you and I decide upon. Late bibliographies and explications will be docked a full letter grade for each day they are late. After five days (not five class periods), late papers receive a zero. An exception to this rule is if you ask for an extension, which I reserve the right to grant or deny on a case-bycase basis. Do not bother to ask for an extension the day the bibliography is due. If youre having trouble with an assignment, see me as soon as possible. I will be more amenable to your request if you approach me, say, a week in advance. Your bibliographies should follow MLA guidelines for citation and formatting. This includes a proper header, 1 margins, 12 pt Times New Roman front, and double-spacing. Bibliographies that do not adhere to MLA guidelines will be returned without a grade. PLAGIARISM Plagiarism (intellectual theft) has serious academic consequences, including potential failure of the course. Please remember to cite or acknowledge the help you received in formulating your ideas. This help includes but is not limited to magazine or journal articles, other textbooks, reference books, introductions to texts, web pages, friends, classmates, and roommates. Remember to cite quoted material as well. See Appalachian State Universitys Academic Integrity Code, Section IV, Code Violations. ATTENDANCE POLICY A = 97-94% B = 86-84% C = 76-74% D = 66-64% A- = 93-90% B- = 83-80% C- = 73-70% D- = 63-60%

You are allowed three absencesno questions asked, no excuses necessary. After three absences, you will lose 1 point of your final course grade for each day you fail to show up to class. I am not so concerned with egregious lateness, though please make every effort to come to class on time. If you have a situation which will cause you to be late, or have to leave earlier, I would encourage you to inform me of this and come to class for as long or short as you can. Upon your return, however, please do not ask me if you missed anything important, as this is perhaps the most obnoxious question you could ask a professor. Do see me during office hours so we can discuss what you missed and so I can give you any handouts I may have circulated. If some kind of family emergency keeps you from class for an extended period of time, I expect you to keep me informed. CELL PHONES, IPHONES, BLACKBERRIES, AND LAPTOPS Please do not use your cell phones, iphones, or blackberries in this class. If circumstances require that you keep an eye on your phone during a single class period, you must apprise me of these circumstances before the start of that class. Additionally, you will not need your laptop during class, as we will spend most of our time together discussing assigned material. For this reason, I ask that you leave your laptop at home or in your backpack. Again, if circumstances require that you use a laptop for notes, see me so we can discuss your situation. On that note, I have had students in the past record class, which seems to be as equally an effective strategy. OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES From the Office of Disability Services: Appalachian State University is committed to making reasonable accommodations for individuals with documented qualifying disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Those seeking accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact and register with The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at http://www.ods.appstate.edu or 828-262-3056. Once registration is complete, individuals will meet with ODS staff to discuss eligibility and appropriate accommodations. WHAT TO DO IF IM LATE: Dont expect me to be late to class. If, for some odd reason, I dont seem to be around when class starts, wait patiently for ten minutes, and then report my absence to either Jennifer or Amy in the English office. They will punish me accordingly. Unhappy Students: First off, I loathe unhappy students. If you have a problem with this course, with your performance in this course, or with me as an individual, please come talk to me. If at any point, you grow weary with your time in this class, you cease to be compelled by the material, or you just downright have a disdain for learning, then, again, please come speak to me. And while it is highly unlikely, if I do something to offend you, or something which you deem deserves suitable punishment, you can contact Dr. Fogelquist, interim chair of the English Facultyjdfogelquist@appstate.edu.

Part OneSeduction Week One

Tuesday, August 21st

Before Class: Purchase Texts (if available) During Class: Introductions; Introduction to Syllabus and Class Content

Thursday August 23th

Before Class: Read Wyatt, The Long love that in my thought doth harbor, Whoso list to hunt, and Farewell, Love; read Introduction to Sixteenth Century During Class: Annotated Bibliography explanation; Explication Assignment Intro; Introduction to Renaissance Verse / Petrarchism; Class-Discussion: Sir Thomas Wyatt Week Two

Tuesday, August 28th

Before Class: read Wyatt, My galley, They Flee from Me, And Wilt Though Leave Me Thus, and Forget Not Yet. During Class: Bibliography and Explication dates assigned; Explication Assignment demonstration; Discussion: Wyatt and Petrarch

Thursday, August 30th

Before Class: Read Surrey, The soote season, Love, that doth reign and live within my thought, So cruel prison how could betide, and O happy dames, that may embrace. During Class: Continue Wyatt, Petrarch; In-Class writing assignment: Wyatt and Surreys Redefinition of the Petrarchan dynamic. Week Three

Tuesday, September 4th

Before Class: Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophil and Stella, 1-2, 5-6, 15, 19 During Class: Introduction to Sidney; Lecture: I am not I, pity the tale of me: Psychic and Poetic Instability in Sidneys Astrophil and Stella;

Thursday, September 6th

Before Class: Sidney, AS, 28, 31, 37, 39, 45, 50, 57-59 During Class: Presentations; Class discussion: Kissing the Muse Week Four

Tuesday, September 11th

Before Class: Sidney First Song, 71, Second Song, 71, 72, 74, 87, 108 During Class: Discussionfinal Sidney; Introduction to the sonnet; in-class sonnet composition exercise.

Thursday, September 13th

Before Class: AS, 82; The Defense of Poesy selections (handout)

During Class: Presentations; discussion: The Purpose of Literature; class assignment: rereading sonnet 82 Week Five

Tuesday, September 18th

Before Class: Read Edmund Spenser, Amoretti, 1, 3, 4, 19, 22, 37 During Class: Introduction to Edmund Spenser; class-discussion

Thursday, September 20th

Before Class: Amoretti, 54, 64, 65, 67, 68, 74, 75, 79 During Class: class-discussion Week Six

Tuesday, September 25th

Before Class: Spensers Epithalamion; also, Ovids tale of Orpheus and Eurydice (handout) During Class: class-discussion

Thursday, September 27th

Before Class: Shakespeares Sonnets, 1, 3, 12, 15, 20; Ovids tale of Echo and Narcissus During Class: Introduction to Shakespeare; Introduction to Renaissance Transformations of Gender; discussion Week Seven

Tuesday, October 2nd

Before Class: Read Shakespeare, 29, 30, 33, 35, 55, 60, 65 During Class: in-class discussion: Shakespeares Eternizing Art

Thursday, October 4th

Before Class: Read Shakespeare, 71, 73-74, 87, 94, 97, 98, 106, 107, 110, 128 During Class: Introduction to Shakespeares sonnets to the boy; in-class discussion; midterm review Week Eight

Tuesday, October 9th

Before Class: Read Shakespeare, 127-130, 135, 138, 144, 146, 147 (study for midterm) During Class: Lecture: Darkened Fantasies: Shakespeares Sonnets to the Lady; continue midterm review

Thursday October 11th Fall Break

Week Nine

Tuesday, October 16th

Before Class: Study for Midterm Exam During Class: In-class midterm review; catch up day.

Thursday, October 18th

Before Class: Study for Midterm During Class: MIDTERM EXAM

Part Two: Consummation Week Ten

Tuesday, October 23rd

Before Class: FQ, Book III, Cantos 1-3 During Class: Introduction to Edmund Spenser; Introduction to Renaissance Epic and Romance; discussion.

Thursday, October 25th

Before Class: FQ, Book III, Cantos 4-6 During Class: continue FQ; presentations Week Twelve

Tuesday, October 30th

Before Class: FQ, Book III, Cantos 7-9 During Class: continue FQ

Thursday, November 1st

Before Class: FQ, Book III, 10-12. During Class: Finish FQ Week Thirteen

Tuesday, November 6th

Before Class: Christopher Marlow, Hero and Leander, During Class: Introduction to Marlow; discussion.

Thursday, November 8th

Before Class: Finish Hero and Leander During Class: Discussion Part Three: Desire Week Fourteen

Tuesday, November 13th

Before Class: Read, Introduction to 17th Century (Norton, 1209-1230); read John Donne, The Flea, The Good-Morrow, The Sun-Rising. During Class: Introduction to the 17th Century, the metaphysicals; discuss readings.

Thursday, November 15th

Before Class: Read John Donne The Ecstasy. During Class: Discussion

Week Fifteen

Tuesday, November 20th

Before Class: Read, Donne, Sappho to Philaenis (Handout) During Class: Discussion

Thursday, November 22ndNo Class, Give Thanks!

Week Sixteen

Tuesday, November 27th

Before Class: John Donne, Holy Sonnets, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10. During Class: Discussion

Thursday, November 29th

Before Class: Holy Sonnets, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19. During Class: DiscussionWhat does it mean to make love to God? Week Seventeen:

Tuesday, December 4th

Before Class: Read Herrick, The Argument of His Book, Upon the Loss of his Mistress, Delight in Disorder, Corinnas Going A-Maying, To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time, How Roses Came Red, Upon the Nipples of Julias Breast, Upon Jack and Jill, and The Kiss. During Class: In-class reading of Hesperides.

Thursday, December 6th

Before Class: Read John Milton, Lycidas During Class: Discussion, final comments; review for final. Final Exam, Tuesday, December 11th 6:00PM!