ENGL2170 · English
Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences
Fulfills the pre-1700 requirement. Britain, Ireland, and their archipelago were home to an exceptionally vibrant early literary tradition spanning English, French, Irish, Latin, Norse, and other languages. Writing from these islands connected rulers and rebels, merchants and monks, brewers and bureaucrats. This course is a survey of British literature (well question the term) from the beginnings to 1700. Most texts are in English; some are read in translation. The course focuses on connections between literature, power, and the formation of literary canons. The survey covers all major genres of early literature from the archipelago. Texts and authors include Beowulf, Marie de France, Chaucer, Margery Kempe, Spenser, Shakespeare, Milton, and Behn.
Course experience
Averages use the original five-point historical evaluation scale.
Organization
4.5 / 5
How well the course was organized
Challenge
4.4 / 5
How intellectually challenging students found it
Attendance
4.6 / 5
How necessary attendance was
Assignments
4.2 / 5
How helpful assignments were
Weekly effort
~5
hours per week
Estimated from the original workload response buckets. Individual sections may differ.
Instructor options
Ratings below reflect only recovered evaluations connected to this course.
Professor, English Department
4.8 / 5
4.4 / 5
Assistant Professor, English Department
3.5 / 5
3.2 / 5
Thomas F. Rattigan Professor, English Department
4.8 / 5
4.5 / 5
Associate Professor, English Department
4.8 / 5
4.4 / 5
Across time
Section-level results available in the recovered archive.
Fall 2023
1 sectionSpring 2023
1 sectionFall 2021
1 sectionFall 2020
1 section