ENGH 431: Topics: British Literary Periods

ENGH 431-001: Nature and Science in 19th-Century British Literature
(Spring 2012)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM W

Innovation Hall 137

Section Information for Spring 2012

The most significant intellectual revolution in the 19th century was arguably the one wrought by new scientific theories on conceptions of the natural and humanity's place in nature. This survey of 19th-century British poetry, fiction, and nonfiction prose will examine artistic responses to key scientific developments during this period. We'll consider the processes by which Wordsworth's moralized Nature turned into Tennyson's "Nature in tooth and claw" as well as various strategies for reconciling nature, science, and the divine. We'll examine key concepts in Darwinian thought and study the ways in which they influenced novelists' portrayals of romance and sexuality and inspired science fiction fantasies in the 1880s and 1890s. We'll also pay some attention to the movements in visual art, from the Pre-Raphaelites' hyper-realism to the Aesthetes' cult of artificiality. Additional writers studied will include Mary Shelley, Robert Browning, Ruskin, Butler, Wells, and Hardy. Required work will include several short papers, a longer researched essay, and a final examination. This course is cross listed with ENGH 640.

Tags:

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

In-depth study of selected period of British literature. In addition to literary examples, materials may be chosen from art, philosophy, or popular culture of the time. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different with permission of department. Offered by English. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.
Specialized Designation: Topic Varies
Recommended Prerequisite: Satisfaction of University requirements in 100-level English and in Mason Core literature.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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