ENGL 2032 - British Literature: Romantic to Present

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3
Course Description: This college literature course intended for all students analyzes and explores British Literature from 1800 to the present. A particular focus is given to how the literature of Great Britain reveals the economic, social, cultural, international, and political issues informing the global society of this era. Topics may include colonialism; industrialization and social reform movements; wars and revolutions; and changing views of race, class, gender, and nation in relation to world cultures. Emphasis is placed on the study of literary elements and devices in fictional, non-fictional, poetic, and dramatic works. Typical authors include Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, T. S. Eliot,  Chinua Achebe, and Margaret Atwood.
MnTC Goals
Goal 06: Humanities/Fine Arts Goal 08: Global Perspective

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: ENGL 1020   with a grade of C or higher OR ENGL 1021  with a grade of C or higher.

Major Content
1. Survey and overview of British Literature since 1800

2. Significant works written during the Romantic, Victorian, Modernist, and Commonwealth/Postcolonial eras of British Literature

3. Topics related to social, political, international, and economic issues, such as the British Empire; the establishment of the British Commonwealth; changing views of nationality, religion, and race;colonialism; child labor; the evolving roles of women, etc  

4. Topics related to the evolving views of culture, society, religion, and linguistics, such as Orientalism; appropriation of cultural elements from colonized nations; systemic discrimination against traditionally marginalized people because of religion, race, ethnicity, class, and/or gender, etc

5. Topics related to international events and their resolutions, such as revolutions, wars, reforms, etc

6. Literary elements and devices

7. Techniques for close reading and interpretation  

 
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

1. describe the scope and variety of works in British Literature since 1800. 

2. articulate an informed personal reaction to works in British Literature since 1800. 

3. respond critically to works in British Literature since 1800. 

4. analyze basic literary elements in works studied. 

5. examine works of British Literature since 1800 as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context. 

6. analyze works of British Literature since 1800 that identify and illustrate various cultural, social, religious, and linguistic differences that developed in Great Britain, its colonies, and other nations. 

7. examine how international events and their resolutions inform the context for and content of British Literature since 1800. 

8. describe the historical and contemporary relevance of political, economic, and cultural elements as depicted in British Literature since 1800. 

 
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies Goal 06: Humanities/Fine Arts Goal 08: Global Perspective
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
 

• 06. 01. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
• 06. 02. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.
• 06. 03. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
• 06. 05. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.

• 08. 01. Describe and analyze political, economic, and cultural elements which influence relations of states and societies in their historical and contemporary dimensions.
• 08. 02. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences.
• 08. 03. Analyze specific international problems, illustrating the cultural, economic, and political differences that affect their solution.

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