AJ24093 Nature, Ethics and Politics in Modern Writing 1760-2010

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2016
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 3 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Stephen Paul Hardy, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jana Chamonikolasová, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 14:10–15:45 G32
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This semester's course will focus primarily on nature, though in the case of the two main works considered, relations between nature, politics and human history in what will be approached, in one sense, as three related forms of literary-philosophical reflection on relations between the human mind and body, nature and society. One is what might be considered, if somewhat paradoxically as a novel, or bildungsroman, in verse, Wordsworth's 'The Prelude', arguably the most important piece of writing and consideration of the nature and development of the imagination in relation to nature itself produced by a modern English poet. Two major works of philosophy will also be considered in alternate weeks, one written over a century prior to Wordsworth's masterpiece, one over a century after which will be considered in parallel with this work, the 'Ethics' by Baruch Spinoza, itself a major influence on Wordsworth's writing, and aspects of 'Contingency, Irony and Solidarity" by Richard Rorty, a book which concerns itself, in relatively accessible fashion with the significance of contemporary relations between literature and philosophy. These philosophical works will be supplemented by readings of extracts from elements of nature writing, including Walton's 'The Compleat Angler', Gilbert White's 'The Natural History of Selborne, elements of the work of John Clare,and extracts from two twentieth century works, 'The Peregrine' by J. A. Baker and Roger Deakin's 'Wildwood', amon gothers. Participants completing the course will have produced an essay indicating an ability to combine aspects of philosophical observational elements in further relation to an appreciation of the historical development of perceived connections between nature and the human imagination.
Syllabus
  • Week I Sept.19th:INDUCTION WEEK: NO LESSON Week 2 Sept.26th:Introductory Week 3 Oct.3rd:Wordsworth: 1) The Prelude: Books I & 2; a)'She dwelt among untrodden ways; b)'Strange fits of passion I have known'; c)'Three years she grew in sun and shower';d) Preface to Lyrical Ballads Week 4 Oct.10th: R. Rorty: Contingency, Irony, Solidarity (Chs 1&2); I. Walton: The Compleat Angler:Chapters I-XIII; G. White: The Natural History of Selborne: Letters I-XL Week 5 Oct.17th:Wordsworth:1) The Prelude: Books 3-6; 2) 'Lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey' Week 6:)Oct.24th: R.Rorty: Contingency, Irony, Solidarity (Chs.3 &4);Dorothy Wordsworth: Journals Week 7):Oct.31st: Wordsworth: The Prelude: Book 7&8 2) Resolution and Independence Week 8: Nov.7th: Spinoza: Ethics Books 1& 2;John Clare (extracts see ELF) Week 9:Nov.14th: READING WEEK: NO LESSON Week 10:Nov.21st: Wordsworth: The Prelude: Books 9-11; 2) Ode: 'There was a time' Week 11:Nov.28th:Spinoza: Ethics:Books III&IV;R. Jefferson; E. Thomas (extracts: see ELF) Week 12:Dec.5th:Wordsworth:The Prelude: Books 12-13; Week 13:Dec. 12th:Spinoza: Ethics Book V: Freedom;Roger Deakin: Wildwood (extracts - see ELF); J.A. Baker: The Peregrine (extracts - see ELF)
Literature
    required literature
  • SCOTT, Walter. Waverley. London: Caxton Pub., 382 s. info
  • Pynchon, Thomas Against The Day London Vintage 2007
  • POWYS, John Cowper. Porius : [a novel]. Edited by Judith Bond - Morine Krissdóttir. 1st pub. New York: Overlook Duckworth, 2007, 751 s. ISBN 9781585673667. info
  • ELIOT, George. Romola. London: Oxford University Press, 1916, 688 s. info
  • PATER, Walter. Marius the Epicurean : his sensations and ideas. Vol. 1. Library ed. London: Macmillan, 1910, 242 s. info
  • PATER, Walter. Marius the Epicurean : his sensations and ideas. Vol. 2. Library ed. London: Macmillan, 1910, 223 s. info
    not specified
  • Thomas, Edward The South Country Little Toller Books, Stanbridge Wimboren Minster, Dorset 2009
  • Jeffreies, Richard Wild Life in a Southern County Little Toller Books Stambridge, Wimborne Minster Dorset 2011
  • White, Gilbert: The History of Selborne London Penguin 1977
  • G by John Berger London Bloomsbury 1972
  • Walton & Cotton: The Compleat Angler; Oxford Oxford Univ Press 1935
  • John Clare Poems Oxford Oxford Univ Press 1984
  • Baker, J.A. : The Peregrine London Collins 2011
  • Deakin, Roger: Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees London Penguin 2008
  • MELVILLE, Herman. Moby Dick. Edited by Kathy Burke. Harlow: Penguin, 2006, iv, 43. ISBN 9781405833530. info
  • FOWLES, John. The french lieutenant's woman. London: Vintage, 2004, 445 s. ISBN 0099478331. info
  • RORTY, Richard. Contingency, irony, and solidarity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989, xvi, 201. ISBN 0521367816. info
  • JAMES, Henry. The Princess Casamassima. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1977, 526 s. ISBN 0-14-004102-8. info
  • PYNCHON, Thomas. Gravity's rainbow. New York: Viking Press, 1973, 760 s. info
  • WORDSWORTH, William. The prelude :a parallel text. Edited by J. C. Maxwell. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1971, 573 s. ISBN 0-14-080105-7. info
  • CONRAD, Joseph. Nostromo : a tale of the seaboard. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1963, 462 s. info
  • SPINOZA, Benedictus de. Spinoza's Ethics ; and, On the correction of the understanding. Edited by T. S. Gregory - Benedictus de Spinoza, Translated by Andrew Boyle. Rev. transl. London: Dent, 1959, xliv, 267. info
  • BYRON, George Gordon Byron. The complete poetical works of Byron. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1933, xxi, 1055. info
Teaching methods
The course will be taught through seminars. Teaching will take the form of seminar discussion and close-reading of required texts. The outcome will take the form of an essay in which aspects of the literature discussed will be analysed - partly in relation to perspectives derived from teaching in the seminar, though participants will also be asked to thnk for themselves
Assessment methods
Assessment will be by class contribution (attendance and oral participation) (40%) and a 6-10 page essay (60%).The essay must relate to one or more of the texts taught on the course.Essays must be submitted in hard copy form.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Spring 2015.
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