Professor Mace

Office Phone: 36215

e-mail: mace@gwmail.usna.edu

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:45-11:45 and 3:30-4:30; Tuesday 9:45-3:45 and by appointment.

    Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was the quintessential eighteenth-century author.  Best known for his masterpiece Tom Jones, he wrote prolifically in several different genres (plays, poetry, periodical essay, satire, novel), engaged in spirited literary dialogues with the most important writers and thinkers of the eighteenth century (Pope, Swift, Theobald, and Cibber, to name a few), and played an active role in politics, championing the Broadbottom Coalition that succeeded Robert Walpole in the 1740s.  The recent dramatization of Tom Jones on the Arts and Entertainment Network has increased interest in his novels.
    In this seminar, we will learn more about the man and his works.  We will begin with a brief review of his life and times.  Then we will study his varied literary career---first as a playwright, then an essayist, and finally as one of the greatest comic novelists of all time.  You will learn about the primary and secondary resources available for studying Fielding, and you will all participate in putting together a Henry Fielding Web Site for the internet.  Finally, each of you will complete a major paper, in which you explore some element of Fielding's literary works.

Texts

Please note that you must use the editions I have ordered because they contain supplementary materials that I will assign.

Xeroxes of plays and essays (to be handed out in class)
Henry Fielding.  Joseph Andrews with Shamela. Ed. Homer Goldberg. Norton Critical Edition.
Henry Fielding.  Tom Jones. Second Edition. Ed. Sheridan Baker. Norton Critical Edition.

Course Policies

Format of Papers: I expect you to type all paper proposals and final drafts. Other assignments (including rough drafts) may be handwritten. Please double space your papers, number the pages (learn how to turn on the automatic page numbering feature in WordPerfect or Microsoft Word), and put approximately one-inch margins on all sides. Make sure that you tear the sheets apart if you are using fanfold paper. I will not accept handwritten final drafts or proposals, nor will I make allowances for papers handed in late because of computer or printer problems.

Writing Assignments:  You will complete three research assignments during the semester and a major paper of 10-15 pages, due on the last day of class.  For the first research assignment, you will, with the help of Madeline Copp, present to your classmates some of the library resources available for studying Henry Fielding and his works; the assignments will be due on 6 and 8 September (link for the assignment: Library Assignment ).  The second assignment will involve your participation in constructing a Henry Fielding Web Site.  The third assignment will be a one-page discussion of one of the figures or places closely related to Fielding; these discussions will eventually become part of the web site.  At the end of the semester you will give a seminar report and turn in a long paper on a topic related to Fielding's works (link for the assignment: Semester Project Assignment ).  In addition, you will each complete one response paper and write down one question for each reading assignment.  I will also give short reading quizzes at the beginning of many classes to make sure that you are keeping up with the reading.

You must hand all papers in on time. I will deduct a grade for each class a paper is late. Note that the minimum requirement for passing the class is to hand in all the assigned essays.

Final Grade:

        Library Assignment        10%
        Response Paper              5%
        Seminar Paper                30%
        Seminar Report              10%
        Written Work                   5%
        Quizzes                          10%
        Participation                   10%
        Web Site Assignments    20%

Extra Instruction: I encourage you to seek extra instruction during office hours if you need help. To save you time, you should probably schedule an appointment in advance by sending me an e-mail message or checking with me during class; in that way, you will not have to wait if I am already busy with another student when you arrive. Students receiving a grade of C- or lower on any essay must make an appointment for extra instruction as soon as possible after getting the essay back.

Available Sites Related to Fielding

 Henry Fielding Page
 Henry Fielding Biography

Tentative Schedule. Please note that I may assign additional readings periodically to supplement those in the syllabus.

Monday, 21 August: Introduction to the course; discussion of the library and research assignments and the final essay.
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read Joseph Andrews, background materials, pp. 335-343, 388-392, 273-306.

Wednesday, 23 August:  Selection of topics for the library assignment.  Discussion of Fielding's life and times.
    Assignment for Friday:  Read Joseph Andrews, pp. 3-52; write down at least one question about the reading and be prepared for a reading quiz.

Friday, 25 August:  More background on Fielding; discussion of Fielding bibliography.
    Assignment for Monday:  Read the first half of  The Author's Farce (xerox).  Write down at least one question about the reading.  Make sure to make appointments to see Madeline Copp about your library presentations.

Monday, 28 August:  Discussion of Web Site Assignment and delegation of responsibilities.
    Assignment for Wednesday: Finish reading The Author's Farce; write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 30 August: Discussion of The Author's Farce.
    Assignment for Friday: Read The Tragedy of Tragedies (xerox); write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 1 September: Discussion of Tom Thumb and The Tragedy of Tragedies.
    Assignment for Wednesday, 6 September:  Read Joseph Andrews pp. 52-98; write down at least one question about the reading.  Complete preparation for library presentations.

Monday, 4 September:  Labor Day holiday. NO CLASS!

Wednesday, 6 September:  Library session in Nimitz Library with Madeline Copp.
    Assignment for Friday:  Read Joseph Andrews pp. 98-144; write down one question about the reading.

Friday, 8 September:  Library session in Nimitz Library with Madeline Copp.
    Assignment for Monday: Read The Lottery (xerox); write down one question about the reading.  Be prepared for a lengthy quiz on JA and The Lottery.

Monday, 11 September:  Discussion of The Lottery.
    Assignment:  Read The Mock Doctor (xerox); write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 13 September:  Discussion of The Mock Doctor.
    Assignment:  Read The Historical Register for the Year 1736 and Eurydice Hiss'd (xerox); write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 15 September:  Discussion of The Historical Register and Eurydice Hiss'd.
    Assignment:  Read essays from the Champion (xerox); write down at least one question about the reading.

Monday, 18 September:  Fielding's periodical essays; discussion of essays from the Champion.
    Assignment:  Read selections from the True Patriot (nos. 1,7, 9, 13, and 33; all xeroxed); write down one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 20 September:  Discussion of essays from the True Patriot.
    Assignment:  Read Joseph Andrews pp. 145-196; write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 22 September:  Library Session in Special Collections with Susan Dean.  Meet in Special Collections.
    Assignment: Read selections from the Jacobite's Journal and the Covent-Garden Journal (xeroxed); write down at least one question about the reading. Read Daniel Defoe's account of the life of Jonathan Wild in your edition of Jonathan Wild.

Monday, 25 September:  Discussion of essays from the Jacobite's Journal and the Covent-Garden Journal.
    Assignment:  Read Fielding's Jonathan Wild, pp. 29-81 (to the end of Book One); write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 27 September:  Discussion of Jonathan Wild.
    Assignment:  Read  Jonathan Wild, pp. 83-134 (Book Two and Book Three, chapters 1-4); write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 29 September:  Discussion of Jonathan Wild.
    Assignment:  Read Jonathan Wild, pp. 134-183 (from Book Three, chapter 5 to Book Four, chapter 6); write down at least one question about the reading. By this date you should have seen me outside of class to select your paper topic for the final essay.

Monday, 2 October:  Discussion of Jonathan Wild.
    Assignment:  Read Jonathan Wild, pp. 183-220 (from Book Four, chapter 7 to the end); write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 4 October:  Discussion of Jonathan Wild.
    Assignment:  Read Joseph Andrews pp. 196-244; write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 6 October:  Video of Tom Jones
    Assignment for Wednesday, 11 October:  Read Joseph Andrews pp. 244-269; write down at least one question about the reading, and be especially prepared for a quiz.

Monday, 9 October:  Columbus Day holiday. NO CLASS!

Wednesday, 11 October:  Introduction to Shamela and Joseph Andrews.
    Assignment:  Read Tom Jones pp. 5-69; write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 13 October:  Discussion of Shamela.
    Assignment:   Read Tom Jones pp. 69-115; write down at least one question about the reading.

Monday, 16 October:  Discussion of Joseph Andrews.
    Assignment:  Read Tom Jones pp. 115-160; write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 18 October:  Discussion of Joseph Andrews.
    Assignment: Read Tom Jones pp. 160-206; write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 20 October:  Discussion of Joseph Andrews. Bibliographies and proposals for the final essay due.
    Assignment: Read Tom Jones pp. 206-253 ; write down at least one question about the reading.

Monday, 23 October:  Discussion of Joseph Andrews.
    Assignment: Read Tom Jones pp. 253-301; write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 25 October:  Introduction to Tom Jones.
    Assignment: Read Tom Jones pp. 301-346; write down at least one question about the reading. Complete you write-up for the first web assignment.

Friday, 27 October:  Discussion of Tom Jones.  Web descriptions due.
    Assignment: Read Tom Jones pp. 347-394; write down at least one question about the reading.

Monday, 30 October: Discussion of Tom Jones.
    Assignment: Read Tom Jones pp. 394-440; write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 1 November: Discussion of Tom Jones.
    Assignment: Read Tom Jones pp. 440-487; write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 3 November: Discussion of Tom Jones.
    Assignment:  Read Tom Jones pp. 487-533; write down at least one question about the reading.

Monday, 6 November: Discussion of Tom Jones and videotape.
    Assignment:  Read Tom Jones pp. 533-577; write down at least one question about the reading.

Wednesday, 8 November:  Discussion of Tom Jones.
    Assignment for Monday, 13 November:  Read Tom Jones pp. 577-641; write down at least one question about the reading.

Friday, 10 November:  Veteran's Day Holiday. NO CLASS

Monday, 13 November: Last class on Tom Jones.
    Assignment:  Prepare for seminar reports and work on web assignment.

Wednesday, 15 November: seminar reports begin; video of Tom Jones.
    Assignment:  Prepare for seminar reports and work on web assignment.

Friday, 17 November: three seminar reports.
    Assignment:  Prepare for seminar reports and work on web assignment.

Monday, 19 November: three seminar reports
    Assignment:  Prepare for seminar reports and work on web assignment.

Wednesday, 21 November:  seminar reports and video of Tom Jones.
    Assignment for Monday, 27 November:  Prepare for seminar reports and work on web assignment.

Friday, 23 November:  Thanksgiving Holiday. NO CLASS.

Monday, 27 November:  three seminar reports
    Assignment:  Prepare for seminar reports and work on web assignments.

Wednesday, 29 November:  three seminar reports
    Assignment:  Complete web assignment

Friday, 1 December: ***FINAL DRAFTS OF WEB ASSIGNMENTS DUE*** Video of Tom Jones.
    Assignment: Work on the seminar paper.

Monday, 4 December:  Video of Tom Jones.
    Assignment: Work on seminar paper.

Wednesday, 6 December: ***SEMINAR PAPER DUE***Course evalution.