The Eighteenth-Century English Novel

English 349, Spring 2000

Jack Lynch

Course Description

Go directly to:

January -- February -- March -- April

Office: (973) 353-5279x516; 516 Hill Hall.

Hours: Monday and Thursday, 2:30-3:30, and by appointment (appointments are best).

Home: (609) 882-4642 (before 11 p.m.!).

E-mail: jlynch@andromeda.rutgers.edu (the best way to reach me).

Listserv: lynch349@andromeda.rutgers.edu (for the whole class).

Course Requirements

English 349 involves the following responsibilities on your part:

Written Assignments: There will be two papers, the first of five to seven pages, the second of eight to ten, along with several smaller writing assignments and your daily reading journal (see below, "Class Participation"). There will also be a short final exam.
Attendance: Almost any excuse, given in advance (in person, by phone, or by E-mail), will receive my blessing. Absences not excused in advance will be frowned upon (which means a lower final grade).
Class Participation: Regular and active class participation (including doing the readings) is essential, and counts for a large part of your grade. In each class meeting, you'll be expected to bring in your reading journal -- a set of written observations or questions on the day's readings -- and be prepared to use it to start the day's discussion. The reading journals will be collected once a month. Class participation obviously includes class attendance; if you're not there, you're not participating.
E-Mail Participation: All students will be required to have an E-mail account by the end of the second week of classes; E-mail participation will count toward the class participation grade, and some essential information will be available only electronically. I'll provide any computing help you need.

Readings

Eight books -- Moll Flanders, Pamela, Joseph Andrews, Humphry Clinker, A Sentimental Journey, Evelina, The Monk, and The Rise of the Novel -- are available from the Rutgers Newark Bookstore in Bradley Hall. The remainder of the readings will be available in photocopies provided in class.

Computing

This class has a mailing list called lynch349@andromeda.rutgers.edu; all students are required to have an E-mail account by the end of the second week of classes and to participate in the discussions on the list. Although I have the greatest sympathy for those suffering from technological nightmares, don't expect to use computer problems as an excuse for not doing the reading or writing. If you have a computer problem, contact me as soon as possible.

Schedule of Class Meetings

Thursday, 20 Jan.: Introduction.
Monday, 24 Jan.: Aphra Behn, The History of the Nun.
Thursday, 27 Jan.: Eliza Haywood, Fantomina; Ian Watt, The Rise of the Novel, chapter 1 ("Realism and the Novel Form").
Monday, 31 Jan.: Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders, pp. ???. OED exercise (on Behn or Heywood) due.
Thursday, 3 Feb.: Moll Flanders, pp. ???; Ian Watt, The Rise of the Novel, chapter 2 ("The Reading Public and the Rise of the Novel").
Monday, 7 Feb.: Moll Flanders, pp. ???.
Thursday, 10 Feb.: Moll Flanders, pp. ???; Ian Watt, The Rise of the Novel, chapter 4 ("Defoe as Novelist: Moll Flanders").
Monday, 14 Feb.: Samuel Richardson, Pamela, pp. 31-130.
Thursday, 17 Feb.: Pamela, pp. 130-278; Ian Watt, The Rise of the Novel, chapter 6 ("Private Experience and the Novel").
Monday, 21 Feb.: Pamela, pp. 279-392.
Thursday, 24 Feb.: Pamela, pp. 392-516; Ian Watt, The Rise of the Novel, chapter 5 ("Love and the Novel: Pamela"). Reading journal due.
Monday, 28 Feb.: Henry Fielding, Shamela.
Thursday, 2 March: Henry Fielding, Joseph Andrews, pp. 1-100 (through Book II, Chapter IV).
Monday, 6 March: Joseph Andrews, pp. 100-99 (through Book III, Chapter IV); Samuel Johnson, on Richardson and Fielding (photocopy).
Thursday, 9 March: Joseph Andrews, pp. 199-303; Ian Watt, The Rise of the Novel, chapter 8 ("Fielding and the Epic Theory of the Novel"). First paper (5-7 pages) due.
Monday, 13 March: No class: Spring break.
Thursday, 16 March: No class: Spring break.
Monday, 20 March: Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey, pp. 3-63 (vol. 1).
Thursday, 23 March: A Sentimental Journey, pp. 64-125 (vol. 2). Reading journal due.
Monday, 27 March: Tobias Smollett, Humphry Clinker, pp. 1-117 (vol. 1).
Thursday, 30 March: Humphry Clinker, pp. 118-230 (vol. 2).
Monday, 3 April: Humphry Clinker, pp. 231-353 (vol. 3).
Thursday, 6 April: Matthew Lewis, The Monk, pp. 1-128 (vol. 1).
Monday, 10 April: The Monk, pp. 129-279 (vol. 2).
Thursday, 13 April: The Monk, pp. 281-442 (vol. 3).
Monday, 17 April: Frances Burney, Evelina, pp. 1-132 (volume 1).
Thursday, 20 April: Evelina, pp. 135-225 (through vol. 2, letter 19).
Monday, 24 April: Evelina, pp. 225-323 (through vol. 3, letter 10).
Thursday, 27 April: Evelina, pp. 324-406; Ian Watt, The Rise of the Novel, chapter 10 ("Realism and the Later Tradition: A Note"). Reading journal due.
Monday, 1 May: Conclusion. Final paper (8-10 pages) due.