Office Hours: MWF 9:55-10:45; 3:30-4:30; Tuesday 9:45-3:45 and by appointment.

    The Restoration and Eighteenth Century (1660-1800) was one of the most lively periods in English history.  Released from the oppression of the Puritans who dominated England after 1649, the drama, visual arts, and music flourished under the patronage of Charles II and his successors.  In this class we will examine these three interrelated forms. We will read representative plays by such authors as Dryden, Behn, Centilivre, Wycherley, Addison, Fielding and Sheridan.  We will also examine comparable paintings and architecture by such artists as Hogarth, Turner, Vanbrugh, and Reynolds.  Finally, we will study the musical trends of the age, especially as they relate to plays and operas, listening to works by such composers as Purcell, Pepusch, Arne, Handel and Dibdin.  We will see the performance of an eighteenth-century play on our visit to Williamsburg, Virgina, and we will tour the eighteenth-century collection at the National Gallery.  You will each complete two or three short research projects, do an oral presentation, and write a major seminar paper.

Texts

Scott McMillin. Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy. Second Edition. Norton Critical Editions, 1997.

George Nettleton and Arthur Case, eds.  British Dramatists from Dryden to Sheridan. Second edition.  Southern Illinois
U. P.

Katherine Rogers, ed.  The Meridian Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Plays by Women.  Diane Publishing Comapny, 1994.

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, and put approximately one-inch margins on all sides. 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. Make sure that you hand papers in on time, since I deduct ten points for each class a paper is late.  You should also remember that the minimum requirement for passing the class is that you hand in all the papers.

Writing Assignments: During the semester you will complete three minor assignments, and you will write a short response paper, which you will read to the class on the date you have chosen. You will also complete a major research project. A bibliography and proposal will be due during the semester, but your final draft and seminar report will not come until the last two weeks of class. We will not have a final examination. You will also be responsible for completing all reading assignments; you will be required to bring into each class for which a reading is assigned two written questions or comments about the reading. You will hand these written questions or comments in as you come into class. We may also have short reading quizzes if they become necessary.

    You must hand all papers in on time. I will deduct a grade for each class a paper is late. You should also remember that the minimum requirement for passing the course is to hand in all papers.

Quizzes and Questions: I expect each of you to do all the reading for class. I will expect you to come prepared for class by bringing in two written comments or questions about each assigned reading. If you miss class, you should bring in your comments or questions to the next class. We will begin our discussions with your questions, so they are important. You may also have a short reading quiz at the beginning of the class for which the reading has been assigned, but these will probably occur only if I sense that the class is not reading the assignments thoughtfully. When you have been absent from class, you will not need to take a makeup quiz; I will simply record no grade for the missed quiz. However, each of you must be present for two thirds of the quizzes. A student who misses more than one third of the quizzes for the semester will earn zeros on those quizzes given after he/she has missed more than the third. I will also drop the lowest quiz grade at the end of the semester.

Writing Folder: Please buy a manila folder or the equivalent. In this folder you will keep all notes, outlines, proposals, rough drafts, and final drafts. Bring this folder to class and to any appointments with me.

Final Grade:
     response paper (5%)
     research assignments (30%)
     seminar report and first draft (15%)
     final draft of seminar paper (30%)
     questions/quizzes (10%)
     participation (including field trips) (10%)

Extra Instruction: I encourage you to seek extra instruction during office hours if you need help. I will require you all to come in for a conference about your projects at least twice during the semester. You can come in at any stage in the writing process, so do not wait until the day or two before an essay is due.

Useful Internet Links (I will add to these throughout the semester)

 Eighteenth-Century Resources
 Eighteenth-Century Studies

Tentative Schedule:  Please note that we will not meet every Friday; however, we will make up the time in field trips and other activities.

Monday, 20 August:  Introduction to the course; historical background 1660-1700.
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Select topics for Biographical Dictionary assignment; enroll in the course on Blackboard.  Read “Stages, Actors, and Audiences” in Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy (pp. 535-562).  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Wednesday, 22 August:  The audience, the theatres, the management 1660-1700. Research Assignment One assigned:  a summary of an entry in the Biographical Dictionary.
    Assignment for Monday:  William Wycherley, The Country Wife pp. 3-85.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading.

Friday, 24 August:  Research materials for Restoration and Eighteenth-Century theatre.  Possible visit to the library.

Monday, 27 August:  The Country Wife
     Assignment for Wednesday:  Read xeroxed selection on The Country Wife from Producible Interpretations.  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 29 August: The Country Wife
    Assignment for Wednesday, 5 September:  Read Aphra Behn The Rover pp. 169-248 and “Gestus and Signature in Aphra Behn’s The Rover,” pp. 597-611.  Write down two comments or questions about the reading.

Friday, 31 August:  open

Monday, 3 September: Holiday. No Class!

Wednesday, 5 September:  The Rover
    Assignment for Monday:  Complete first research assignment.

Friday, 7 September:  Videotape on Music in Colonial Williamsburg (40 minutes).

Monday, 10 September: Research Assignment One Due. The Rover
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read pp. 3-6; 69-70 of Nettleton Case (NC) and Thomas Otway, Venice Preserv’d, pp. 113-126.  Write down two comments or questions about the reading.

Wednesday, 12 September: Venice Preserv’d
    Assignment for Monday:  Read Thomas Otway, Venice Preserv'd pp. 126-147.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading.

Friday, 14 September:  open

Monday, 17 September: Venice Preserv’d.  Schedule appointments for individual conferences by today.
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read Henry Purcell and Nahum Tate, Dido and Aeneas.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday 19 September: Dido and Aeneas and Henry Purcell.
    Assignment for Monday: Read about the Jeremy Collier debate, pp. 493-516 of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy and NC pp. 387-388.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.  Read George Farquhar, The Beaux Stratagem in NC pp. 349-362.

Friday, 21 September: Possible videotape on the life of Henry Purcell.

Monday, 24 September:  Jeremy Collier controversy and the development of drama 1700-1728.  Discussion of the next Research Assignment:  a play not assigned for class.
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read George Farquhar, The Beaux Stratagem in NC pp. 362-386.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading. Select a play for the second research assignment.

Wednesday, 26 September: The Beaux Stratagem
    Assignment for Monday:  Complete selection of topic for seminar paper.  Work on second research assignment.

Friday, 28 September:  Lecture on Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Art with an introduction to the collection at the National Gallery.

Monday, 1 October:  The Beaux Stratagem
     Assignment for Wednesday:  Read Joseph Addison, Cato in NC pp. 471-498.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading.

Wednesday, 3 October: Cato
    Assignment for Wednesday, 10 October:  Complete second research assignment.

Friday, 5 October: open

Monday, 8 October:  Columbus Day Holiday!  No Class.

Wednesday, 10 October:  Second research assignment due. Cato
    Assignment for Monday:  Read Susanna Centilivre, A Bold Stroke for a Wife, pp. 185-259 in Meridian Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Plays by Women.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading.

Friday, 12 October:  Field trip to the National Gallery to view eighteenth-century collection.

Monday, 15 October: A Bold Stroke for a Wife
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read Richard Steele, The Conscious Lovers in McMillin pp. 321-383.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading for Monday.

Wednesday, 17 October:  Prof. Barry Talley on Handel and Italian opera.
    Assignment for Monday:  Read John Dennis, “Remarks on The Conscious Lovers,” pp. 529-534 of McMillin.  Complete your bibliography for your seminar paper. You may also want to start reading The Beggar’s Opera.

Friday, 19 October:  open

Monday, 22 October:  Bibliography for Seminar Paper due.  You will sign up for seminar reports on this date.  The Conscious Lovers
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read John Gay, The Beggar's Opera pp. 526-565.  Write down two comments or questions about the reading.

Wednesday, 24 October:  The development of drama 1728-1737; discussion of the final research assignment; introduction to The Beggar's Opera
    Assignment for Monday:  Work on the final research assignment and one-page description of seminar paper.

Friday, 26 October: The Beggar's Opera

Monday, 29 October: The Beggar's Opera
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read Henry Fielding, The Tragedy of Tragedies, pp. 567-594 of NC.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading.

Wednesday, 31 October: one-page description of seminar paper due; The Tragedy of Tragedies.
    Assignment for Monday:  Read George Lillo, The London Merchant, pp. 595-624 of NC.  Write down two questions or comments about the reading.

Friday, 2 November: The Tragedy of Tragedies dramatic reading (or field trip to Williamsburg)

Monday, 5 November: The London Merchant
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Finish research assignment and work on seminar paper.

Wednesday, 7 November: Research Assignment Three due; discussion of theatre calendars. The London Merchant.
    Assignment for Wednesday, 12 November:  Work on seminar paper.

Friday, 9 November: Field trip to Williamsburg or class to catch up.

Monday, 12 November: Veteran’s Day Holiday. No Class!

Wednesday, 14 November: Seminar Reports Begin.  Late Eighteenth-Century drama (1737-1800) and the importance of David Garrick.
    Assignment for Monday:  Read School for Scandal pp. 384-454 in McMillin.  Write down two comments or questions about the reading.

Friday, 16 November:  Seminar Reports (3) School for Scandal

Monday, 19 November: Seminar Reports (3) School for Scandal
    Assignment for Wednesday:  work on final essay.

Wednesday, 21 November:  Seminar Reports (3) School for Scandal
    Assignment for Monday:  Work on seminar paper.

Monday, 26 November: Seminar Reports (3) School for Scandal.
    Assignment for Wednesday:  Read Hannah Cowley The Belle's Stratagem pp. 407-488 of Meridian Anthology. Write down two comments or questions about the reading.

Wednesday, 28 November: The Belle’s Stratagem
    Assignment for Monday:  Work on seminar paper.

Friday, 30 November:  videotape of School for Scandal.

Monday, 3 December: The Belle’s Stratagem and final thoughts on Restoration and Eighteenth-Century drama.
     Assignment for Wednesday:  Complete the final essay.

Wednesday, 5 December: Class evaluation.  ***FINAL ESSAYS DUE***