Professor Mace
Office Phone: 36215
e-mail: mace@usna.edu

Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:45-10:45; 1:30-2:15; and 3:30-4:30; Tuesday 10:00-3:45 and by appointment.

The literature of the early eighteenth century, indeed the literature of the entire century from the Restoration of Charles II to the accession of George III, is dominated by satire. It would be difficult to find another comparable period of modern literary history whose tone was so firmly established by a single dominant genre.

              ----David Nokes, Raillery and Rage, 1987
 

In HE467 we will focus our attention on satire in the Restoration and eighteenth century---what it was, how it was practiced, who were its objects. Since satire is often closely related to contemporary events, we will study the political, religious, and cultural forces that shaped English society and literature in the eighteenth century.  Each of you will give a report on some element of eighteenth-century life satirized in the works we will read, and you will all complete a lengthy seminar paper treating satire as it appears in one of our readings. In preparation for your research, we will review briefly the primary and secondary sources available to those working on the eighteenth century.

Texts

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

Henry Fielding. Tom Jones. Ed. John Bender. Oxford University Press.
David W. Lindsay, ed. The Beggar's Opera and Other Eighteenth-Century Plays. Everyman.
Martin Price, ed. The Restoration and Eighteenth Century (Oxford Anthology of English Literature). Oxford University   Press.
Thomas Shadwell. The Virtuoso. Regents Restoration Drama Series.  University of Nebraska Press.
Jonathan Swift. The Works of Jonathan Swift. Revised Edition. Ed. Robert Greenberg.  Norton Critical Editions.

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 two 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 Michael Macan, present to your classmates some of the library resources available for studying Restoration and Eighteenth-Century satire and satirists; the assignments will be due on  24 and 31 January. The second assignment will be an oral report on some aspect of eighteenth-century English life.  At the end of the semester you will give a seminar report and turn in a long paper on a topic related to Eighteenth-Century English satire.  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                          15%
        Participation                   10%
        Oral report                     15%

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.

General Eighteenth-Century Links
Check these sites for bibliographies, biographies, and background.

 Eighteenth-Century Resources
 Eighteenth Century Studies
 Voice of the Shuttle: Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Resources

Tentative Schedule

Wednesday, 9 January:  Introduction to the course; discussion of the research assignments.
    Assignment for Friday, 11 January:  Read over general materials on satire (xerox).  Write down one comment or question about the reading.  Register for the course in Blackboard.  General Links on Eighteenth-Century Satire:   Annotated Bibliography on Satire  The Purpose and Method of Satire  Theorizing Satire: A Bibliography

Friday, 11 January:  Discussion of satire in general; introduction to the Restoration.
    Assignment for Monday, 13 January:  Read over xeroxed selections from the Bible and materials on the Popish Plot; read John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, pp. 54-66 in the eighteenth-century anthology.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.  Link to John Dryden:   John Dryden (with text of Mac Flecknoe)

Monday, 13 January:  More on satire; John Dryden and Absalom and Achitophel
    Assignment for Wednesday, 15 January:  Read Absalom and Achitophel, pp. 67-83.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 15 January:  Discussion of Absalom and Achitophel
    Assignment for Friday, 17 January: Read  Thomas Shadwell, The Virtuoso, pp. xv-xxvi; pp. 3-55 (Acts I and II).  Write down a comment or question about the reading. The Royal Society:   The Royal Society (official site)  Selections from the History of the Royal Society

Friday, 17 January:  Discussion of The Virtuoso.
    Assignment for Wednesday, 22 January: Read The Virtuoso, pp. 56-142 (Acts III-V).  Write down a question or comment about the reading.

Monday, January 20:  Martin Luther King Holiday.  NO CLASS!

Wednesday, 22 January:  Discussion of The Virtuoso
    Assignment for Friday, 24 January:  Read John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe, pp. 83-89 in anthology.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Friday, 24 January:  Discussion of Mac Flecknoe
    Assignment for Monday, 27 January:  Read Daniel Defoe, The Shortest Way with the Dissenters (xerox).  Write down one comment or question about the reading.  Defoe Links: Defoe Page

Monday, 27 January: Discussion of The Shortest Way with Dissenters
    Assignment for Wednesday, 29 January:  Read handouts on mock heroics and The Rape of the Lock and The Rape of the Lock, pp. 321-342 of anthology.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.  Alexander Pope Links:  Rape of the Lock Page

Wednesday, 29 January: Discussion of The Rape of the Lock
    Assignment for Friday, 31 January:  Work on library reports.

During the week of 3 Februray to 7 February, you should each schedule an appointment with me to discuss possible topics for your final seminar paper.

Friday, 31 January:  Library reports I
    Assignment for Monday, 3 February:  Reread Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock, pp. 321-342 of anthology.  Read background materials on The Dunciad.

Monday, 3 February:  Discussion of The Rape of the Lock
    Assignment for Wednesday, 5 February:   Read selections from Alexander Pope, The Dunciad, Book IV, pp. 393-413 in the anthology. Write down one question or comment about the reading.  On-line annotated text of Dunciad Book IV: Text of Dunciad Book IV

Wednesday, 5 February:   Discussion of The Dunciad
    Assignment for Friday, 7 February:  Work on library reports.

Friday, 7 February:  Library Reports II
    Assignment for Monday, 10 February: Read Jonathan Swift, "Predictions for the Year 1708," "The Accomplishment of the First of Mr. Bickerstaff's Predictions," "A Vindication of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq.," and "A Modest Proposal."  Write down one comment or question about the reading. Jonathan Swift Sites:   Jonathan Swift and Gulliver's Travels

Monday, 10 February:  Topics for final essay due.  Review of MLA format and bibliography.  Discussion of Swift's short prose satires.
    Assignment for Wednesday, 12 February:  Read Jonathan Swift, "The Lady's Dressing Room" and "Strephon and Chloe."  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Wednesday, 12 February:  Finish discussion of prose satires and discuss Swift poems.
    Assignment for Friday, 14 February:  Read Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels, Book I.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Friday, 14 February:  Discussion of Gulliver's Travels, Book I
    Assignment for Wednesday, 19 February:  Read Gulliver's Travels, Book II.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Monday, 17 February:  HOLIDAY.  NO CLASS!

Wednesday, 19 February:  Discussion of Gulliver's Travels,  Book II.
    Assignment for Friday, 21 February:  Read Gulliver's Travels, Book III.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Friday, 21 February:  Discussion of Gulliver's Travels, Book III
    Assignment for Monday, 24 February:  Read Gulliver's Travels, Book IV.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Monday, 24 February:  Discussion of Gulliver's Travels, Book IV
    Assignment for Wednesday, 26 February:  Read Jonathan Swift, "Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D."  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 26 February:  ***Preliminary Bibliography of Seminar Paper Due*** Discussion of "Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift, D.S.P.D."
    Assignment for Friday, 28 February:  Read John Gay, The Beggar's Opera, Acts I and II (in play anthology), pp. 147-186.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.  Links for John Gay:   John Gay Biography  John Gay and the Beggar's Opera (with music)

Friday, 28 February:  Introduction to The Beggar's Opera.  Selections from the DVD.
    Assignment for Monday, 3 March:  Read The Beggar's Opera, Act III (pp. 186-206).  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Monday, 3 March:   Discussion of The Beggar's Opera
    Assignment for Wednesday, 5 March:  Read Henry Fielding, The Tragedy of Tragedies (in play anthology), pp. 209-226.  Read once with Fielding's footnotes, once without.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.  Links: Henry Fielding Page

Wednesday 5 March:  Discussion of The Beggar's Opera
    Assignment for Friday, 7 March: Read The Tragedy of Tragedies, pp. 229-257.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 7 March: *** Proposal for Final Paper Due*** Discussion of The Tragedy of Tragedies
    Assignment for Monday, 17 March:  Read Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, pp. 1-6; 29-90.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Monday 10 March to Friday 14 March: Spring Break!

Monday, 17 March:  Introduction to Tom Jones
    Assignment for Wednesday, 19 March:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 90-152.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 19 March:  Discussion of Tom Jones
    Assignment for Friday, 21 March:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 152-212.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 21 March: Lecture on William Hogarth and Visual Satire
    Assignment for Monday, 24 March:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 212-275.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 24 March: Discussion of Tom Jones
    Assignment for Wednesday, 26 March:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 275-336.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Wednesday, 26 March: Discussion of Tom Jones
    Assignment for Friday, 28 March:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 336-399.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 28 March: Seminar reports begin.  Discussion of Tom Jones
    Assignment for Monday, 31 March:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 399-460.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 31 March:  Seminar reports.  More on Tom Jones
    Assignment for Wednesday, 2 April:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 460-524.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 2 April: Seminar reports. More on Tom Jones
    Assignment for Friday, 4 April:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 524-587.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 4 April: Seminar reports. More on Tom Jones
    Assignment for Monday, 7 April:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 587-646.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 7 April: Seminar reports. More on Tom Jones
    Assignment for Wednesday, 9 April:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 647-708.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 9 April:  Seminar reports. More on Tom Jones
    Assignment for Friday, 11 April:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 708-768.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Friday, 11 April: Final day of seminar reports. More on Tom Jones
    Assignment for Monday, 14 April:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 768-827.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Monday, 14 April: Discussion of Tom Jones
    Assignment for Wednesday, 16 April:  Read Tom Jones, pp. 827-871.  Write down one question or comment about the reading.

Wednesday, 16 April:  Discussion of Tom Jones
    Assignment for Friday, 18 April:  Read Richard Brinsley Sheridan, School for Scandal (in play anthology), pp. 403-447.  Write down one comment or question about the reading.

Friday, 18 April:  Discussion of School for Scandal
    Assignment for Monday, 21 April:  Read School for Scandal, pp. 448-487.

Monday, 21 April:  Discussion of School for Scandal
    Assignment for Wednesday, 23 April:  Work on seminar paper

Wednesday, 23 April: Finish discussion of School for Scandal
    Assignment for Friday, 25 April:    Complete your final essay.

Friday, 25 April:  ***FINAL ESSAY DUE***  DVD of The Clandestine Marriage

Monday, 28 April:  Class evaluation. The Clandestine Marriage