EN245 The English Nineteenth-Century Novel (2018/19)

Transcription

1 EN245 The English Nineteenth-Century Novel (2018/19) Tutor: Dr Jen Baker Office: H521. Term-Time Office Hours: Monday 2-3pm and Thursday pm. Module aims: This module aims to explore the rise of the novel as both a genre and a concept, and the ways in which it develops in the particular context of nineteenth-century Britain, responding to rapid social change - and the possibility of revolution - and the correspondingly shifting understandings of class, gender, sexuality, nation and culture. We shall consider what nineteenth-century readers taxonomized the novel and invested heavily in what they thought its purpose and formula should be and yet simultaneously defamiliarized it. So too, we will consider the C19th novel outside its historical context, and as subject to multiplicitous critical readings. The module traverses a range of various styles such as "social realism", sensationalism, historical fiction, fantasy, and cover topics such as masculinity, the new woman, sexuality, childhood, landscapes, Empire, dialogues between image and text, evolution, and illness. Novelists and texts from the popular to the literary, from the canonical to those often overlooked post Assessment: 2X 2500 word Essays (Term 1, Term 2) [List of assessment questions p.***] 1 x 2 hour Examination Contact hours: 1 X 1.5 hour seminar 6 Lectures: Term 1 weeks 3, 5, 8. Term 2 weeks 2, 7, and 9. If you are an exchange student and studying for the full year, then your assessment requirements are as detailed above. If you are studying this module for one term only you are required to submit written work on the last Tuesday of the term you complete (word count tbc).

2 Preparation A lot of these novels are, as was the way with Victorian writers in particular, very hefty, so if you choose this module you will need to read as many from term 1 as you can over the summer or you are likely to fall behind. Particularly as, in many weeks, there is also compulsory secondary reading. In the purchase section I have indicated approximate page numbers of primary texts (based on my own editions) to help you prepare. You will find Reading Guidance for each week on the right-hand side of the module webpage. Ensure to download these, make notes, and bring a printed or e-version to each class. Unless otherwise stated, copies of the required critical reading for each week is reproduced in the corresponding Reading Guidance document. I also recommend reading the following articles/chapters/texts in preparation [module webpage]: 1. At least one of these three from The Oxford Handbook of the Victorian Novel, ed. Lisa Rodensky (2013): a. Peter Garside, 'The Early C19th English Novel, ' b. William McKelvy, 'New Histories of English Literature and the Rise of the Novel, ' c. Rebecca Edwards Newman, 'Genre, Criticism, and the Early Victorian Novel' 2. The set texts for week one of term one, which are available on the module webpage. Read them now but try and re-read for week one as well, making more critical notes. 3. Delve in and out of at least one of these two: Both available as e-books in Warwick library. The Oxford handbook of the Victorian novel, edited by Lisa Rodensky (2013) The Oxford handbook of Victorian literary culture, edited by Juliet John. (2016)

3 TEXTS TO PURCHASE Below I specify the editions to be purchased: I strongly recommend those editions because of the quality of editing and accompanying critical materials in that edition, and it keeps the class flowing if we are all on the same page. They are divided into Term 1 and 2 to help spread costs. Some weeks we will also examine the illustrations, so it is important that you get the relevant editions were specified. If you use e-books, try to get these editions, and avoid ones without page numbers. NOTE: Ensure the version you purchase is unabridged. TIP: To get the best price and correct edition I recommend the comparison site TIP: If you use amazon, type the book title and penguin etc in the search box (e.g. Belinda Oxford Classics) to ensure they show you that edition. Term 1: [7 texts] Maria Edgeworth, Belinda [1801] approx. 470 pp. Walter Scott, The Antiquary [1816/1829] (Oxford World s Classics, 2015) or (Penguin, 2011) approx. 360 pp. Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton [1848] (Oxford World s Classics, 2006) approx. 380pp Charles Dickens, David Copperfield [1850] (Penguin Classics, 2004) Or another FULLY ILLUSTRATED edition by H.K. Browne (Phiz) required. NB: Oxford World Classics only contains 8 of the illustrations. The fancy Penguin clothbound and Vintage versions are not illustrated. approx. 883 pp. Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [1865] [unabridged and any edition illustrated by TENNIEL] NB: preferably collected with Through the Looking Glass approx. 160pp. George Eliot, Silas Marner [1861] (Oxford World Classics, 2008 or 2017) or (Penguin Classics, 2003) approx. 160pp. George Gissing, The Nether World [1889] (Oxford World Classics, 2008) approx. 390pp

4 Term 2 [6 texts]: Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey [1803/1818] or (Penguin, 2003) approx. 180pp. R. L. Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde [1886] Norton Anth, 9 th edn. (vol. E) (Penguin 2003) approx. 200pp Charlotte Brontë, Villette. [1853] approx. 496pp. Florence Marryat, The Blood of the Vampire [1897] (Victorian Secrets, 2012) (or Wildside press, 2018) approx. 250 pp. Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White [1860] approx. 530pp. H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds [1898] (Penguin Classics, 2005) or (Oxford World s Classics, 2017) approx. 180 pp.

5 Term One OVERVIEW The C19th Novel: Uncomfortable Realisms Week Primary Reading Approx pages 1. The English Novel: In Context Elizabeth Inchbald, Novel Writing (1807) and Theory E. Buwler-Lytton, On Art in Fiction (1838) George Eliot, Silly Novels by Lady Novelists (1856) Walter Besant s & Henry James articles, The Art of Fiction (1884) F.R. Leavis, The Great Tradition (1948) Roland Barthes, from The Reality Effect (1968) Rita Felski, Context Stinks (2011) Compulsory Critical Reading NB: The Primary Texts for week 1 will be available in hard-copy to collect from the departmental office. If you find yourself unable to collect before term starts, please read them online [module webpage] make notes and then grab a hard copy when you can. 2. The Society Novel Maria Edgeworth, Belinda (1801/2) 470pp. No set secondary but ensure to read the text s Introduction and Note on the Text. 3. The Historical Novel LECTURE: Literary Topographies Walter Scott, The Antiquary (1816/29) 430 pp. No set secondary but John Bowen s, The Historical Novel (2002) is recommended for context. 4. The Industrial Novel Elizabeth Gaskell, Mary Barton (1848) 370 pp. Caroline Levine, Victorian Realism (2012) Friedrich Engels, from The Condition of the Working Class (1845) [Norton] 5. The Bildungsroman LECTURE: Image and Text Charles Dickens, David Copperfield (1850) Chs. I READING WEEK - NO CLASS 450 pp. No set secondary. See week-specific list for recommendations 7. Colonising Narrative Charles Dickens, David Copperfield (1850) Chs. 32 End. 400 pp. Edward Said, Consolidated Vision (1993) 8. Children s Literature? LECTURE: The Victorian Child Lewis Carroll, Alice s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) 160pp. One piece of modern criticism of student s choosing you will be paired-up. 9. Provincial Fairytales George Eliot, Silas Marner (1861) 160 pp. George Eliot, from The Natural History of German Life (1859) 10. Empires of Dirt George Gissing, The Nether World (1889) 390pp. John Ruskin, The Storm-Cloud of the Nineteenth Century (1884)

6 Term Two OVERVIEW The C19th Novel: Play, Parody, Fantasy, and Other Worlds. Week Primary Reading Approx 1. Experimental Forms 2. Early Gothic and its Parody LECTURE: The Haunted Novel Anon. Novel-Reading: A Cause of Female Depravity (1817) B. On Novel Reading (1827) Wilkie Collins, The Unknown Public (1858) Margaret Oliphant, Novels (1867) John Ruskin, from Fiction Fair and Foul (1880) Oscar Wilde, from The Decay of Lying (1891) Richard D. Altick, The English Common Reader (1957) Nicholas Dames, Toward a History of Victorian Novel Theory (2007) pages Required Critical Reading NB: The Primary Texts for week 1 will be distributed in hard-copy in advance but will also be uploaded on the module webpage. Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey (1803/1818) 180 pp. Anon. Terrorist Novel Writing (1797) Anon. Novel Reading: A Cause of Female Depravity (1817) Toby Benis. "The Neighborhoods of Northanger Abbey." (2015) 3. Subversive Realism Charlotte Brontë, Villette (1853) Vol. I and XVI, XVII from Vol II. 4. Haunted Femininities & Empires Charlotte Brontë, Villette (1853) Rest of Vol. II and III 188 pp. 315 pp. Charlotte Brontë letter. Extracts from The Monk 5. New Sensations Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White (1860) Read until page 344, stopping at The Story Frederick Fairlie Esq. 6. READING WEEK - NO CLASS 344pp. Appendices A and B 7. Detecting Dangers LECTURE: Science and Literature Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White (1860) Read from The Story Continued by Frederick Fairlie Esq. (p.345) to the end. 300pp. Preface [1860] and Preface [1861] 8. Darwin s Degenerates Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) 200 pp. Extract from William Greenslade s, Degeneration, Culture and the Novel: (1994) 9. The New Woman Florence Marryat, The Blood of the Vampire (1897) 187pp. Appendices A-D LECTURE: Past, Present, Future 10: Darkest Present-Futures H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds (1898) 180 pp. One piece of modern criticism of student s choosing - you will be paired-up.

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