The courses offered by the English faculty serve a twofold purpose: to teach students to formulate and articulate their thoughts clearly and effectively in both our spoken and written language, and to help students develop a critical understanding of work by writers of American, British, and world literature.

The English faculty understands that students come to the study of English with diverse interests and motives. Therefore, with faculty guidance, a student majoring in English may design a course of English study to satisfy those interests while maintaining some of the depth and breadth of study traditionally expected in the discipline. Such subjects as gender studies, ethnic literature, literature in various interdisciplinary contexts, literary history, literary theory, and the teaching of English suggest possible emphases.

The study of literature provides students with an appreciation of various responses of men and women to the human condition; in addition, the study of English serves as a humane preparation for careers in fields such as teaching, law, government service, journalism, and publishing. Students considering graduate study in English should consult with a member of the English faculty as soon as possible to plan the most appropriate course of study.

All literature courses satisfy the general education requirement in literature; however, students are encouraged to satisfy that requirement by choosing from courses numbered 200-295. The sequential numbering of 200- and 300-level courses does not represent a graduating scale of difficulty.

Neither credit by examination in the AP and IB programs, nor individualized educational experiences (such as individual contracts, internships, or tutorials) fulfill general education requirements in writing or literature.

Major Requirements

two units at the 200 level (excluding EH 208), one of which must be EH 250 or EH 260
one unit emphasizing a breadth of literary study (category 1)
one unit emphasizing a depth of literary study (category 2)
one unit emphasizing literature of a different time, place, or culture (category 3)
one unit emphasizing contemporary literature (category 4)
one unit emphasizing literary theory (category 5)
two elective units (excluding EH 208), one of which must be at the 300 level or above
one unit of EH 470-72 English Seminar
EH 499 Senior Interim Project

Category 1: EH 349, EH 355, EH 375, EH 381, EH 389, EH 390
Category 2: EH 310, EH 330, EH 360, EH 380
Category 3: EH 350, EH 351, EH 361, EH 384, EH 385
Category 4: EH 392, EH 394, EH 395
Category 5: EH 400, EH 410, EH 420, EH 459

Minor Requirements

Literature (5 units):

one 200-level literature course
one unit emphasizing a breadth of literary study (category 1)
one unit emphasizing a depth of literary study (category 2)
one unit emphasizing literature of a different time, place, or culture (category 3)
one unit emphasizing contemporary literature or literary theory (category 4 or 5)

EH 208


EH 204 or 205


three units from EH 301, 302, 303, 305, or 493 when a contracted

advanced writing course

Courses in English

EH 100 Library Research: Tools and Methods (½)

An introduction to library research, encompassing traditional and electronic methods and resources to locate and evaluate information.

 

EH 102 Introduction to Writing (1)

Techniques of expository prose. Prerequisite: Placement by English faculty. Fall, Spring.

 

EH 200 Introduction to Literature (1)

Critical approaches to poetry, short stories, and drama. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208. Fall, Spring.

 

EH 204 Writing for the Print Media (1)

A survey of writing styles and techniques appropriate for news writing, public affairs reporting, and feature articles for the print media. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 205 Introduction to Creative Writing (1)

Beginning work in creative writing in several genres, including fiction, poetry and either drama or creative nonfiction, at the discretion of the instructor. Using a combination of in-class exercises, readings, and workshops, the course introduces students to the fundamentals of creating, reading, and evaluating short pieces of creative writing. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 208 Intermediate Writing (1)

The development of intensive analytical skills, precise and extensive vocabulary, and consciousness of style. Prerequisite: EH 102 or placement by English faculty. Fall, Spring.

 

EH 210 Introduction to Fiction (1)

An introduction to the short story, chiefly in American and British literature, with some attention to longer fiction. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208. Fall, Spring.

 

EH 215 Introduction to Drama (1)

An introduction to dramatic literature from the Greeks to the present. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 220 Literature and the Social Experience (1)

An introduction to the social interpretation of literature through study of a faculty selected topic (such as African-American Literature, War in Literature, Literature and the Environment, or Androgyny in Literature), focusing on a cultural movement, a social issue, or the perspective of a social group. The course can be taken only once for credit. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 230 231 Plural America I (1) and II (1)

This sequence of courses introduces students to the plurality of the American culture from within the liberal arts traditions of history and literature. The intent is to recognize the aspects of other cultures appropriated into the Western tradition but often either unacknowledged or glossed over. The end should be an appreciation of the achievements and limitations of our Western heritage, and a heightened sensitivity to the cultural diversity of the world-at-large. Plural America I focuses on Native American and Chicano history and literature and on the European context of American society; Plural America II focuses on African-American and Asian-American history and literature and on the 1960s as a catalyst for multi-culturalism. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208. (Also listed as HI 230 231.)

 

EH 249 Literature and the Visual Arts (1)

A survey of various approaches to the relationships between verbal and visual arts from the Middle Ages to the present. Study includes works in one medium inspired by those in another, works in both art forms from the same period, and artists of both art forms. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 250 Major British Authors (1)

An introduction to major British prose and verse written from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 260 Major American Authors (1)

An introduction to major American prose and verse written from the Colonial period to the present. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 265 Major Southern Authors (1)

Studies of important long works by major Southern writers from antebellum to present times. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 270 Major Works of World Literature (1)

A selection of major works of European and Third World authors in translation. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 280 Major Works of Greco-Roman Literature (1)

A selection of major Greek and Latin works read in English translation. Prerequisite: EH 102 or 208.

 

EH 301 Fiction Workshop (1)

The writing of original short prose fiction taught by the workshop method. The course may be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: EH 205 or consent.

 

EH 302 Poetry Workshop (1)

The writing of original short poetry taught by the workshop method. The course may be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: EH 205 or consent.

 

EH 303 Advanced Prose Workshop (1)

The study of and practice in development of style in writing, with general and professional applications. Prerequisite: EH 204 or 205 or consent.

 

EH 305 Journalism Workshop (1)

Reading and practice in forms of journalism, including literary journalism, arts reviews, feature writing, editorials, and interviewing. Prerequisite: EH 204.

 

EH 310 Development of the Novel (1)

An examination of the novel as a genre from its origins to its later forms. Emphases on common motifs, the development of fictional elements such as characterization, plot, and point of view, and the role of the author. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 2)

 

EH 330 Major Authors (1)

A focused study of the works of one to three authors. Recent offerings have included Yeats, Hawthorne and Morrison, Hemingway, Woolf. With the permission of the English faculty, students may enroll more than once for credit, providing that the focus of the course is different. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 2)

 

EH 349 Literature and the Arts (1)

A survey of the relationships among the art forms of a particular culture or historical period. Emphasis is placed on how literary works influenced or were influenced by larger cultural movements manifested in music, painting, sculpture, and architecture. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 1)

 

EH 350 Chaucer (1)

A reading of The Canterbury Tales and other selected major poems of Chaucer in Middle English. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 3)

 

EH 351 Medieval British Literature (1)

Studies in British prose, poetry, and drama of the Middle Ages. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 3)

 

EH 355 Romance: Medieval to Gothic to Modern (1)

A survey and analysis of the development of the genre of romance from its English origins in the Middle Ages to contemporary popular fiction. Special attention is given to modern methods of analysis. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 1)

 

EH 360 Shakespeare (1)

Studies in the major Shakespearean genres: tragedy, comedy, history. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 2)

 

EH 361 Renaissance Poetry (1)

Non-dramatic poetry of the Tudor and Stuart periods, 1485-1660. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 3)

 

EH 375 Satire (1)

A study of the forms and techniques of satire including, but not limited to, selections from Classical and Augustan literature. A secondary emphasis is placed on the visual and performing arts. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 1)

 

EH 380 Romantic Prose and Poetry (1)

The critical study of major British writers of the Romantic period. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 2)

 

EH 381 Victorian Prose and Poetry (1)

A study of major British writers of the Victorian period. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 1)

 

EH 384 Literature of the American Indian (1)

Studies in literature by and about North American Indians. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 3)

 

EH 385 Contextual Studies in World Literature (1)

A study of world literature within its cultural contexts. At present, the focus of the course is African Literature. With the permission of the English faculty, students may enroll more than once for credit, providing that the focus of the course is different. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 3)

 

EH 389 Contextual Studies in American Literature (1)

A critical examination of selected American writing within its cultural contexts. At present, the focus of the course is African-American autobiography, from slave narratives to the present. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 1)

 

EH 390 Twentieth Century British and American Poetry (1)

The critical study of major British and American poetry of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 1)

 

EH 392 Contemporary Fiction (1)

An examination of trends in British or American fiction since World War II, including the impact of postmodernism, neorealism, and the belated recognition of minority writing. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 4)

 

EH 394 Contemporary Drama (1)

A critical examination of the principal plays, playwrights, and theories of contemporary drama. (Also listed as ThA 331.) Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 4)

 

EH 395 Contemporary International Fiction (1)

A sampling of recent non Anglo American fiction; may include postcolonial literatures, such as African and Latin American fiction, as well as Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and other Asian fiction. Prerequisite: Any 200-level literature course. (Category 4)

 

EH 400 Studies in Culture and Text (1)

A theoretical study of texts from a perspective of cultural criticism. Recent offerings have emphasized modernism and postmodernism. With the permission of the English faculty, students may enroll more than once for credit, providing that the focus of the course is different. Prerequisite: Any 300-level literature course. (Category 5)

 

EH 410 Studies in the Novel (1)

A theoretical study of the novel. The focus of the course may change each time it is offered: for example, gender and the novel, the modernist novel, the novel and narratology. Prerequisite: Any 300-level literature course. (Category 5)

 

EH 420 Studies in the Drama (1)

A theoretical study of the drama. The focus of the course may change each time it is offered: for example, gender and the drama, dramatic form and theory, the theatre of the absurd. Prerequisite: Any 300-level literature course. (Category 5)

 

EH 459 Methods of Literary Interpretation (1)

Study and application of major methods of literary analysis. Prerequisite: Any 300-level literature course. (Category 5)

 

EH 470 72 English Seminar (1)

Advanced study of selected topics within a specific area of language or literature. Students may enroll for a second seminar on a separate topic as one of their electives. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

 

EH 493 Independent Study (1)

Directed work for advanced students. Prerequisite: Consent.

 

EH 498 Teaching Experience in English (1)

Experience in the teaching of English fundamentals under the supervision of a member of the English faculty. Prerequisite: Consent.

 

EH 499 Senior Project in English (1)

A research project, pursued independently or corporately, that brings to bear the student's accumulated knowledge in the discipline and his or her skills in critical thinking and writing. A substantial paper and oral presentation are required. Students may be required to lead discussion or direct the activities of other members of the project. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Interim.