EGL 209 - British Literature: The 1590s

Course Units: 1

(Not Offered this Academic Year) (Offered twice every four years) Early modern London was a place in which everyone-from the queen to courtiers to poets- could see herself or himself as an “actor on the stage.” It was a culture in which role-playing was a necessary and dangerous art, one that led to both paranoia and creativity. In this course we’ll explore a wide variety of Renaissance poses and impersonations: portraits and speeches of Queen Elizabeth (as well as recent film treatments of her); sophisticated and scandalous love poetry; the advice given to young ladies and courtiers on how to protect themselves from vicious gossip and dazzle their onlookers; and audacious works of theater. Course authors include Sidney, Marlowe, Spenser, Shakespeare, Castiglione, and Queen Elizabeth. Prerequisite(s): EGL 100 or EGL 101 or EGL 102 or a grade of 5 on the AP English Literature or Language test. CC: HUL, HUM