English Degree
Curriculum
English Major (36 Credits)
EN 225 Masterpieces of American Literature I
This introductory survey traces the development of a distinctly American literary tradition in relation to questions of national identity, selfhood, gender, and race. Drawn from contact and colonial writing through the ante-bellum period, readings may include Native American myths; exploration and captivity narratives; religious writing; poems by Bradstreet, Taylor, Whittier, and Longfellow; autobiographies by Franklin and Douglass; essays by Emerson and Thoreau; fiction by Hawthorne, Poe, and Melville. 3 credits
EN 226 Masterpieces of American Literature II
The second part of Masterpieces of American Literature introduces students to major American achievements in poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fictional prose from post-Civil War era through the second half of the twentieth century. Readings may include the poetry of Whitman, Dickinson, Frost, Stevens, Hughes, and Bishop; the fiction of James, Twain, Wharton, and Faulkner; the drama of O'Neill and Williams; the prose of Washington and DuBois. 3 credits
EN 227 Masterworks of British Literature I
Introduces students to the treasures of British literature: the tales of Chaucer; sonnets of Shakespeare; poems of Sidney, Spenser, Donne, Marvell, Milton, Dryden, Pope; essays of Swift and Samuel Johnson. Making use of some of the most beautiful and suggestive literary texts in English, this course helps students to become confident and responsive readers of literature. 3 credits
EN 228 Masterworks of British Literature II
The second half of Masterworks of British Literature explores selections from among the prose and poetry of Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats; the works of Tennyson, Arnold, the Brownings, Ruskin, Mill, Newman, Carlyle, Pater; and such modern poets as Yeats, Eliot, Auden, and Heaney. 3 credits
EN 317 Literary Theory and Criticism
What is literature? Who decides what we should read and why? How should we read a literary text? These are just a few of the questions about literature that this course will explore. Focusing on one major literary text, students will learn to apply a variety of critical perspectives to their reading and be introduced to the practice of literary criticism and major contemporary critical theories. 3 credits
EN 391 Senior Seminar in British and American Literature
This is the culminating seminar for English majors which invites in-depth study of selected seminal literary texts. Past seminars have focused on the question: How does reading and knowing poets of the past relate to our reading and knowing of poets of our own time? Generally offered every year. 3 credits
One course from the following:
EN 283, 284 Shakespeare I, II
These two courses, which can be taken together or separately, explore the literary and theatrical genius of one of the world's greatest and most controversial artists. We will read, discuss, and watch performances (both film and live) of Shakespeare's major plays. EN 283 focuses on the turbulent history plays (Richard II, Henry IV Part I and Part II, Henry V); sparkling romantic comedies (A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It); and two of the most popular and poignant tragedies (Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet). EN 284 focuses on three great tragedies (Macbeth, Othello, King Lear); two mind-bending, problematic plays (Antony and Cleopatra, Measure for Measure); and the fas ci nat ing and beautiful final plays (The Winter's Tale, The Tempest). Generally offered every other year. 3 credits each
EN 383 Shakespeare Seminar
This seminar, designed for students who have some previous college experience of Shakespeare, offers an opportunity to study, compare, and perform scenes from a small number of Shakespeare's plays, in conjunction with a staged production, whenever possible. Generally offered every other year. 3 credits
15 credits of English electives
Creative Writing (36 credits)
EN 143 Introduction to Creative Writing (may be waived with permission of Department Chair or Director of Creative Writing Concentration).
A writing course designed as a general introduction to the strategies of literary composition. Through sustained and systematic practice in the techniques that stimulate and refine creative writing, students will exercise and develop intuitive and critical abilities essential to significant artistic achievement. Generally offered once a year. 3 credits
EN 225 Masterpieces of American Literature I
This introductory survey traces the development of a distinctly American literary tradition in relation to questions of national identity, selfhood, gender, and race. Drawn from contact and colonial writing through the ante-bellum period, readings may include Native American myths; exploration and captivity narratives; religious writing; poems by Bradstreet, Taylor, Whittier, and Longfellow; autobiographies by Franklin and Douglass; essays by Emerson and Thoreau; fiction by Hawthorne, Poe, and Melville. 3 credits
EN 226 Masterpieces of American Literature II
The second part of Masterpieces of American Literature introduces students to major American achievements in poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fictional prose from post-Civil War era through the second half of the twentieth century. Readings may include the poetry of Whitman, Dickinson, Frost, Stevens, Hughes, and Bishop; the fiction of James, Twain, Wharton, and Faulkner; the drama of O'Neill and Williams; the prose of Washington and DuBois. 3 credits
EN 227 Masterworks of British Literature I
Introduces students to the treasures of British literature: the tales of Chaucer; sonnets of Shakespeare; poems of Sidney, Spenser, Donne, Marvell, Milton, Dryden, Pope; essays of Swift and Samuel Johnson. Making use of some of the most beautiful and suggestive literary texts in English, this course helps students to become confident and responsive readers of literature. 3 credits
EN 228 Masterworks of British Literature II
The second half of Masterworks of British Literature explores selections from among the prose and poetry of Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Shelley, Keats; the works of Tennyson, Arnold, the Brownings, Ruskin, Mill, Newman, Carlyle, Pater; and such modern poets as Yeats, Eliot, Auden, and Heaney. 3 credits
EN 244a/b Creative Writing: Poetry, Short Fiction, Short Theater Pieces
This course invites students with a serious interest in writing to compose various forms of poetry, short fiction, and/or theater pieces. Through weekly writing and class workshops, this course helps students discover material, find and develop an authentic voice, and experiment with different kinds of writing. Generally offered every other year. 3 credits
EN 317 Literary Theory and Criticism
What is literature? Who decides what we should read and why? How should we read a literary text? These are just a few of the questions about literature that this course will explore. Focusing on one major literary text, students will learn to apply a variety of critical perspectives to their reading and be introduced to the practice of literary criticism and major contemporary critical theories. 3 credits
EN 391 Senior Seminar in British and American Literature
This is the culminating seminar for English majors which invites in-depth study of selected seminal literary texts. Past seminars have focused on the question: How does reading and knowing poets of the past relate to our reading and knowing of poets of our own time? Generally offered every year. 3 credits
One course from the following:
EN 283, 284 Shakespeare I, II
These two courses, which can be taken together or separately, explore the literary and theatrical genius of one of the world's greatest and most controversial artists. We will read, discuss, and watch performances (both film and live) of Shakespeare's major plays. EN 283 focuses on the turbulent history plays (Richard II, Henry IV Part I and Part II, Henry V); sparkling romantic comedies (A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It); and two of the most popular and poignant tragedies (Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet). EN 284 focuses on three great tragedies (Macbeth, Othello, King Lear); two mind-bending, problematic plays (Antony and Cleopatra, Measure for Measure); and the fas ci nat ing and beautiful final plays (The Winter's Tale, The Tempest). Generally offered every other year. 3 credits each
EN 383 Shakespeare Seminar
This seminar, designed for students who have some previous college experience of Shakespeare, offers an opportunity to study, compare, and perform scenes from a small number of Shakespeare's plays, in conjunction with a staged production, whenever possible. Generally offered every other year. 3 credits
Three of the following courses (9 credits):
EN 245a/b The Composing Process
Making use of class exercises, workshops, and individual conferences, this course will guide students to discovering materials, affecting audiences, and writing creatively with clarity and power. Generally offered every year. 3 credits
EN 343a/b Seminar in Poetry Writing
This seminar explores and develops students' interest in different kinds of poetic forms. It includes a final portfolio in the form of a collection of poems or a single long poem. Students can expect to submit their more accomplished work to various literary publications (including Breakwater) and poetry competitions. P: EN 244a/b or permission of instructor. Generally offered every other year. 3 credits
EN 344a/b Seminar in Fiction Writing
An intensive class in composing and evaluating short stories and longer fiction. Students will work on a variety of brief exercises and one major project in narrative composition. P: EN 244a/b or permission of instructor. Generally offered every other year. 3 credits
EN 345a/b Seminar in Composing Autobiography
This seminar uses readings, class exercises, and workshop activities to help students begin the process of exploring different versions of writing one's self as a literary text. Issues addressed include becoming the "author"