106-220 Romantic Cultural Politics, 1790-1840

Note

Available as 106-320 at 3rd-year level.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject examines writing as a form of cultural production in Britain from 1790 to 1840, focusing on a variety of radical, counter-revolutionary and conservative writing and reading cultures that emerged following the French Revolution of 1789, in the context of debates on revolution, empire, social reform and control, class, gender and sexuality. Students will develop an understanding of the historical, political, social and generic contexts of production and reception that inform Romantic writing, and will be introduced to a range of contemporary theoretical, critical and literary-historical approaches to the study of Romantic writing and culture.

Assessment

Written work of not more than 5000 words consisting of one essay of 2000 words and one essay of 3000 words.

Prescribed Texts

Course reader available from the Department.

• J Austen, Mansfield Park. World's Classics.
• E Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France. Penguin.
• G G Byron, Don Juan.
• M Edgeworth, The Absentee. World's Classics.
• A Lister, I Know My Own Heart: The Diaries of Anne Lister, 1791-1840. NYUP.
• T R Malthus, Essay On Population. World's Classics.
• P Polwhele, The Unsex'd Females.
• M Wollstonecraft, Political Writings. World's Classics.