English 207
Studies in National Literatures:
Scottish Literature
Spring 2000
Steve Lane

[The Course]|[Texts]|[Evaluation]|[Syllabus]|[Information and Policies]|[Suggested Further Research]|

The Course

One of the national literatures written in English that has the greatest hold on our imaginations is Scottish literature. Writers like Robbie Burns and Sir Walter Scott continue to be celebrated and popular.

This semester, we will read some works in the Scottish tradition of the past 200 or so years, beginning with Burns, moving to James Hogg, then to Scott. We will bring the discussion right up to the present, ending with Trainspotting and contemporary Scottish poetry.

Evaluation

Your grade for this course shall be calculated according to the following factors:

Midlothian Reading Assignment20%
1 Midterm examination20%
1 Research essay30%
1 Final examination30%

Texts

Scott, The Heart of Midlothian (note: please do NOT pre-read this one, you keeners!)
Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor
Hogg, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner
Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Welsh, Trainspotting
A selection of Scottish poetry and prose, to be distributed in class or available on-line.

Jan. 11Scotland: Cultural Contexts. Critical Orientations.Midlothian assignment OUT.
Jan. 13Scotland: Historical Contexts. Writing about Literature.
Jan. 18Enlightenment Scots: Smith & Hume. READ: Bk. I, ch. 1 Wealth of Nations; My Own Life (handouts).Midlothian intros. & chs. I-II
Jan. 20Romantic Scots: Burns, Baillie. READ: Tam O'Shanter; Night Scenes from Other Times.
Jan. 25Romantic Scots: Scott, Byron. READ: "It Was an English Ladye Bright", "MacGregor's Gathering", "Lochinvar" (excerpt from Marmion); English Bards and Scots Reviewers (excerpt).Midlothian chs. III-VII
Jan. 27Byron. READ: "She Walks in Beauty", "So We'll Go No More A-Roving", "On This Day I Complete my Thirty-sixth Year", "Darkness".
Feb. 1READ: The Bride of Lammermoor.Midlothian chs. VIII-XII
Feb. 3READ: The Bride of Lammermoor.
Feb. 8READ: The Bride of Lammermoor.
Feb. 10Midterm Examination
Feb. 15READING WEEK - NO CLASSES
Feb. 17READING WEEK - NO CLASSES
Feb. 22READ: Confessions of a Justified Sinner.Midlothian chs. XIII-XVII
Feb. 24STRIKE - NO CLASSES
Feb. 29READ: Confessions of a Justified Sinner.
Mar. 2Victorian Scots: Carlyle. READ: excerpts from Past and PresentMidlothian chs. XVIII-XXII
Mar. 7READ: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.Midlothian chs. XXIII-XXVII
Mar. 9READ: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Mar. 14Modern Scottish Poetry: Cruickshank, Muir. READ: "Prayer", "Keepit In"; "Scotland 1941", "Scotland's Winter", "The Fathers".Midlothian chs. XXVIII-XXXII
Mar. 16Research Essay Conferences.
Mar. 21Modern Scottish Poetry: MacDiarmid, Corrie, Raine, Bruce. READ: "Gairmscoile", "The Parrot Cry", "Prayer for a Second Flood"; "Miners' Wives"; "The Ancient Speech"; "Inheritance".Midlothian chs. XXXIII-XXXVII
Mar. 23Contemporary Scottish Poetry. READ:
Mar. 28Film: Trainspotting (first 60 mins.).Midlothian chs. XXXVIII-XLII
Mar. 30Film: Trainspotting. Discussion.
Apr. 4READ: Trainspotting.Midlothian chs. XLIII-XLVII
Apr. 6Review of Course. Prepare for Final.Midlothian chs. XLVIII-LII

Information and Policies

  1. My office is in Bldg. 340, room 234. My office hours this semester are as follows:
    Tu Th8:30-9:30
    Tu Th11:30-12:30
    As well, you can always make an appointment to see me.

  2. Your essays will be graded with letter grades. For ease of comparison, here is my grade scale:
    A = 86-100% B = 73-85% C = 60-72% D = 50-59% F = 0-49%

  3. Assignments are due by 4:00 p.m. on the due date. After that, they are late and will be penalized at the rate of a grade per day (i.e., 1 day late, a "B" paper goes to "B-").

  4. The final Exam shall be held during the Exam period. The midterm and final exams must be written at the scheduled time (no lates or make-ups).

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