The period between 1780 and 1830 in Europe was a time of immense upheaval, both in the political world (revolution in France, the Napoleonic wars, the expansion of the British Empire, the abolition of the slave trade, etc.) and in the realm of the aesthetic. This course examines the formal and philosophical innovations of the British poetry of the period by introducing the major literary figures from the English Romantic Period, including Wordsworth, Keats and Shelley. Important biographical details of the lives of selected poets, the influence of historical, cultural, and artistic context on selected major works, and the use of literary devices will be analyzed. The ideals of the French Revolution as reflected in the works of the Romantic Poets will broaden the vision of the readers and inspire them with the love for humanity which is actually a desired ideal in this shrinking island of love.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to

• gain familiarity with the work of major British Romantic poets.
• identify the characteristics of this period as reflected through the poetry of the selected representative poets.
• understand the ideals of French Revolution as reflected in the works of the Romantic Poets

Aims & Objectives

This course is a study of poetic forms from English Romantic verse. Student will be able to identify the characteristics of this period as reflected through the poetry of the selected representative poets. Important biographical details in the lives of selected poets, the influence of historical, cultural, and artistic context upon selected major works, and the use of literary devices will be analyzed. The ideas of the French Revolution as reflected in the works of the Romantic Poets will broaden the vision of the readers and inspire them with the love for humanity which is actually a desired ideal in this shrinking island of love.

Course Contents

WILLIAM BLAKE                                     i.          The Divine Image

ii.         Holy Thursday, I

                                                                                    iii.        The Little Black Boy

iv.        The Chimney Sweepers

                                                                                    v.         A Poison Tree

WILLIAM WORDSWOrth Tintern Abbey, The Prelude book 1

P.B. SHELLY                                   (a) Ode to the West Wind  

(b) To a Sky Lark  

(c) The Cloud.

JOHN KEATS :        (a)Endymion (Selected lines)  

 (b) Ode to Autumn

(c)Ode to a Nightingale (d) Ode on a Grecian Urn

Reading List

• Carr, B. (1975)  Bertrand Russell: An Introduction. Georage Allen and Unwin.
• Hawkins, M. J. (1972) Introduction in Francis Bacon: Essays. JM Dent and Sons.
• Rawson, C. J. (1973)  Gulliver and the Gentle Reader. Routlege and Kegan Paul.
• Russel, B. (1940)  Introduction in An Inquiry Into meaning and Truth. Georage Allen and Unwin.
• Speck, W.A. (1970)  Swift.  Arco.
• Vichers, B. (1978)  Francis Bacon and Renaissance Prose.  Longman
• Williams, K. (1969)  Jonathan Swift. Georage Allen and Unwin
• Williams, K. (1970)  Swift the Critical Heritage. Routlege and Kegan Paul

Assessment Criteria

Mid Term: 30

Sessional: 20

• Project: 05
• Presentation: 05
• Participation: 05
• Attendance: 05

Final exam: 50

Class Timings