English 714: Presentation Topics

English 714
Student Presentations

Students are expected to give a brief (15-20 minutes) oral presentation on one of the assigned readings for the semester, during which they will examine particular aspects of the text in order to provide a deeper appreciation of the text's meaning

A written version of the presentation will be submitted at the time of the presentation.
Although no secondary source material is required for this assignment, ALL sources must be CLEARLY cited in the written version of the presentation.
Oral citation of sources will be insufficient and may lead to serious consequences (Please familiarize yourself with the Graduate School's guidelines on academic dishonesty, which can be found in the most recent catalog).

Possible topics (please feel free to develop a topic of your own):


Aug	26	Course Introduction

		A. Feminism and Gender
Sept	2	Smith, Desmond Historical Context: Women and the French Revolution Chronology Autobiography Genre: The “feminine novel of sensibility”: The Gothic The Picturesque / Nature Writing Epistolary novel Perspectives: English French Clergy Nobility
	9	Wollstonecraft, Vindication of the Rights of Woman The Wrongs of Woman, or Maria Wollstonecraft's view of women Female Education Language of Slavery Maria as exemplification of theories in Vindication Role of Godwin as Editor Significance of Class Sexual Identity and Morality Character of Darnford Character of Jemima Portrayal of British Legal System Mother-Daughter Relationships Concept of Confinement
	16	Hays, The Victim of Prejudice Sexual Identity and Morality Economic dependence Burke's Benevolent Patrirarch Concept of Confinement Portrayal of British Legal System Mother-Daughter Relationships
	23	Lister, I Know My Own Heart WW, “To the Lady E.B and the Hon. Miss P” (handout) Construction of Identity Personal vs. Public Writing Personal vs. Public Reading Use of (Coded) Language Role of Class Homosocial vs Homosexual Relationships


		B. Slavery and Abolition
	30	Phillis Wheatley (handouts) “To S. M., a Young African Painter” “To the Right Hon. William, Earl of Dartmouth” “On Being Brought from Africa to America” "An Hymn to Morning" “A Farewell to America. To Mrs. S. W.” “To His Excellency George Washington” “On the Death of Gen. Wooster” Use of Language Subversion vs. Submission Religion Intersections: Race, Class, Gender African/American/European Culture
Oct	7	Equiano, Narrative of the Interesting Life (Gates 15-247) Use of Language Subversion vs. Submission Religion Intersections: Race, Class, Gender African/American/European Culture
	14	Equiano, cont. Prince, History of Mary Prince (Gates 249-321) Construction of Identity Oral vs. Written Voice Subversion vs. Submission Religion Intersections: Race, Class, Gender (Melanie)
	21	Blake, “The Little Black Boy,” (handout) “Visions of the Daughters of Albion” (handout) Coleridge, “Greek Prize Ode on the Slave Trade” (handout) “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Intersections: Race, Class, Gender African Traditions/Imagery American/British Culture & Society
	28	Southey, from Poems on the Slave Trade (handout) (Frank) WW, “To Toussaint L’Ouverture” (handout) “September 1st, 1802” (“The Banished Negroes”) (handout) “To Thomas Clarkson” (handout) “Queen and Negress chaste and fair!”(handout) Private vs. Public Writing/Correspondence Intersections: Race, Class, Gender Images of the Exotic Other

		C. Colonialism and Orientalism
Nov	4	Edgeworth, Belinda Intersections: Race and Gender (Miscegenation) Rationality and Enlightenment Feminism Same-Sex Friendships Names and Symbolism Private vs. Public
	11	Byron, The Giaour (print pp. 1-36) The Bride of Abydos The Corsair (print pp. 1-51) Figure of the Byronic Hero Figure of the Turkish Other Religion and Empire Gender and Power
	18	P. Shelley, Hellas De Quincey, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater English Self vs. Turkish Other Reliability of the Autobiographical Narrator Prostitutes and other Marginalized Figures (Diana) Dreams
	25	Mary Shelley, The Last Man Figure of the Sibyl Figure of the Queen Mother Figure of Evadne Role of Religion Orientalism and Ethnocentrism