ENGL 200 A Survey of English Literature I. "In spring folk long to go on pilgrimage" so begins Geoffrey Chaucerï's 14th century masterpiece of the English tradition, The Canterbury Tales. In English 200, we will set out on a pilgrimage which honours the living beauty of the English language and its greatest writers such as Spenser, Shakespeare and Donne, ending in the 17th century with Milton.
Prerequisites: ENGL 111 with a minimum grade of 60%
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | 3.00 |
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| Total Hours | 45 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Explain the evolution of English literature from Chaucer to Milton
- Analyze and write about the major works of English literature from Chaucer to Milton
Teaching and Learning Approach
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the development of English literature from the
end of the Renaissance through to the beginning of the Restoration, including foundational works of Chaucer,
Shakespeare, and Milton. The course focuses on critical thinking, composition, and research skills, with
supplementary essay readings provided on Moodle. Throughout the course we will be applying a variety of
theoretical lenses to inform the analysis of assigned readings. In-class discussion and short lectures bring the
challenging texts to life through close reading and discussion of implications to historical and contemporary
culture. Some of the approaches and methods to learning include:
1. demonstrating critical reading skills;
2. socially construct knowledge about texts in class discussions;
3. prepare, research, present, and discuss ideas in written and oral forms;
4. synthesize information and ideas within a variety of cultural contexts; and
5. evaluate a wide range of the major works of English literature.Learning Resources
Required: Greenblatt, Stephen. et al. Eds. Norton Anthology of English Literature: Shorter Eleventh Edition.
Volumes 1. New York: WW Norton & Company 2024
-Weekly academic essays and excerpts posted on MoodleDetailed Course Content, Topics, and Sequence Covered
1. Course introduction, Icebreaker, Moodle, expectations, course outline review
2. Backgrounder: Old English texts; important literary terms: The Heroic Tale, Alliterative Verse, The Arthurian Legends, Exile Poetry; Intro to Chaucer
3. Introduction to Estates Satire
4. New Historicism: Evolution of Language; Influence of the Black Death
5. The Flowering of the Renaissance; Concepts of Utopia
6. Thanksgiving holiday on Monday The Bible in Literature
7. Elizabethan Era: History and Literary Movements
8. A Look at Early Colonial Literature; Poetics
9. Major Playwrights, precursors and influences Presentations of research
10. Shakespearean Tragedy
11. Cultural Context and Example
12. Milton, intro; Authority and Anti-Authority
13. The Epic, conventions and examples
14. Milton continued; intro to the Restoration period
15. Final Exam Week - time is TBA on the Selkirk websiteAssessment
| Title | Learning Outcomes | Value |
|---|
| Participation and Attendance | 1, 2 | 10% |
| Learning Journal | 1, 2 | 10% |
| Analysis and Response Essay | 1, 2 | 25% |
| Presentation of Research | 1, 2 | 10% |
| Research Essay | 1, 2 | 25% |
| Final Exam | 1, 2 | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.