Department of English The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Professor Florence Boos: 8:104 Literature and Culture of Victorian Britain

Syllabus

January 18th introduction, handouts

For next time, read Reynold’s and Leighton’s introductions to Victorian Women Poets and the article by Angela Leighton, “‘Because Men Made the Laws,’” (handout), as well as book I of Aurora Leigh.
Also, you should begin to read selections from the Victorian women poets on the list of suggested poets, with a view to choosing your presentation topic.
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January 23rd discussion of readings; Aurora Leigh, book I

For next time, read chapter by Isobel Armstrong, “‘A Music of Thine Own,’” and article by Dorothy Mermin, “The Damsel, the Knight and the Victorian Woman Poet,” (handouts), as well as book II of Aurora Leigh.
Also, you should begin to read selections from the modernist poets on the list of suggested poets, with a view to choosing your presentation topic.

January 25th discussion of readings; Aurora Leigh, book II
for next time, read essay by Kathleen Hickok, “Intimate Egoism’” (handout), as well as books III and IV of Aurora Leigh.
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January 30th Aurora Leigh, books III and IV

February 1st Aurora Leigh, books V-VII
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February 6th Aurora Leigh, books VIII-IX
At this time students should let me know their presentation topics, and I will prepare a new syllabus.

February 8th mid-Victorian sonnets: EBB (“Sonnets from the Portuguese”; sonnets to George Sand; Christina Rossetti, “Monna Innominata,” “In An Artist’s Studio”; Augusta Webster, “Mother and Daughter”)
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February 13th Augusta Webster, shorter poems (“A Castaway,” “Circe,” and “By the Looking Glass”)

February 15th Augusta Webster, longer poems (“Medea,” “Mother and Daughter”)
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February 20th Emily Bronte

February 22nd Eliza Cook
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February 27th Janet Hamilton

March 1st Christina Rossetti

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March 6th Christina Rossetti

March 8th Amy Levy
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spring break
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March 20th Mary Coleridge

March 22nd fin de siecle: Rosamund Marriott Watson, lyrics
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March 27th Rosamund Marriott Watson

March 29th Alice Meynell
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April 3rd Charlotte Mew

April 5th Charlotte Mew
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April 10th Edith Sitwell

April 12th Edith Sitwell
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April 17th 2 chapters Dowson

April 19th Mina Loy
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April 24th Mina Loy

April 26th Valentine Ackland
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May 1st Sarojina Naidu

May 3th Scottish poets: Jacob, Mitchison, Angus
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May 8th final discussion