Practical Information and Assignments

MW 4:30-5:45 208 EPB; Florence Boos florence-boos@uiowa.edu, 335-0434
Office hours: Monday 6-7 p. m. and Wednesday 3:30-4:20 319 EPB

Course texts: all in IMU

Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton
Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights
George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss
Mary Prince, The History of Mary Prince
Willie Collins, The Moonstone
Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Samuel Butler, Erewhon
William Morris, News from Nowhere

handouts for short stories: Walter Scott, “The Two Drovers,” Margaret Oliphant, “The Open Door,” others as time permits by Thomas Hardy, Flora Steel and perhaps others

Assignments:

one 6+ page research paper. As the time approaches I'll pass out a handout with suggested topics for a research paper, though you may also choose your own. A proposed topic, title and bibliography for the research paper are due two weeks before the paper itself. This will enable you to face in advance any problems in obtaining materials.

You should consult at least six sources, and of these 2 or 3 should be books and two or three articles. It's acceptable to use computerized encylopedia entries and webpages (such as those suggested on the "resources" sections of our course page) in addition, but these cannot substitute for printed materials. When citing from the internet, you must also provide references to the actual author, source of the information and date of publication (e. g. an internet address by itself won't do). Due before spring break.

6+ comparative essay. Due at time of final session, held the Monday of exam week. Students will describe their final essays to the class.

Postings or Presentations.

using our class discussion page (twist.lib.uiowa.edu/britnov, you will be asked to help prepare plot summaries of sections of at least two of our novels. Also please post five 1-2 page essays chosen from five of the the following topics:
1. painting or artwork in relation to one of our novels
2. work of nineteenth-century music in relation to one of our novels
3. visit to Special Collections: illustrations, fine editions, serial parts for one of our texts
4. periodical context--serialization, 19th century reviews
5. modern criticism--3 or more 20th century readings of an aspect of one of our novels
6. comparison of film adaptation with original text: what are the changes and why?
7. comparison of a 20th century “Victorian” novel (most probably A. Byatt) with 19th century works we have read
8. historical application--a historical context for a scene or theme in one of our works
9. biographical context--an aspect of the work in the context of author’s life
10. linguistic analysis--a discussion of the use of dialect, regional, or class-marked speech in one of the course novels
11. a discussion of authorial intrusions and narrative voice in one of the course novels
12. a creative presentation or reading (may be done with others)

Be sure to proofread your message posting. Perhaps you might print it out in the usual ways and correct for syntax, grammar and punctuation.

Attendance and discussion are central to this class. I may lower the grade one half point for more than three absences, and for more than six absences your grade will fall substantially.

Guidelines for Grading:
20% class attendance, preparation and contributions to class
25% research paper
25% comparative essay
20% five postings + plot summaries
10% quizzes