English 592: Women Writers in the Age of Shakespeare

Syllabus - Autumn 2001

Texts: WWRE = Women Writers in Renaissance England, ed. Randall Martin
               Mariam = The Tragedy of Mariam the Fair Queen of Jewry. With The Lady Falkland Her Life by One of Her Daughters, ed. Weller and Ferguson
               PB = Paper Bodies: A Margaret Cavendish Reader, ed. Bowerbank and Mendelson
                OR = Aphra Behn, Oroonoko, The Rover, and Other Works,  ed. Janet Todd

Click here for a statement of Course Policies.

Date

Readings/Activities

Other Assignments Due

Thursday, September 20 Introduction to Course  
 

Women's Strategies For Writing

 
Tuesday, September 25 "Preamble: Women's Self-Image as Writers"
WWRE
15-41: Margaret Tyler, Anne Dowriche, Rachel Speght, Elizabeth Jocelin.
On Reserve:
The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare, Chapter 8.
 
Thursday, September 27 Anne Askew: The Examinations WWRE 58-79  
Tuesday, October 2 Askew, The Latter Examination  
Thursday, October 4 On Reserve: "The Homily on Matrimony" in The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare  
Friday, October 5

 

Bibliography Assignment Due by 4pm in my mailbox in GA 435
 

Love and Marriage: 
Women's Views

 
Tuesday, October 9 Elizabeth Tanfield Cary, The Tragedy of Mariam the Fair Queen of Jewry, Mariam   
Thursday, October 11

Cary, Mariam discussion continued

 
Tuesday, October 16

Margaret Lucas Cavendish, The Convent of Pleasure, PB

 
Thursday, October 18 Cavendish, Convent continued,  plus selected Sociable Letters, PB
Aphra Behn, "The Disappointment," OR 331-34
 
 

Writing against resistance

 
Tuesday, October 23 Jane Anger, from Jane Anger Her Protection for Women WWRE 80-96  
Thursday, October 25 Rachel Speght, from A Muzzle for Melastomus WWRE 126-38  
 Friday, October 26   Renaissance Women On-line Assignment due by 4pm in my mailbox in GA 435
 

Re-writing Women's Roles

 
Tuesday, October 30 Amelia Lanyer, from Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum WWRE 360-97 360-97  
Thursday, November 1

Lady Ann Southwell and Elizabeth I (handout)

 
Tuesday, November 6 Lady Mary Wroth, selected sonnets from "Pamphilia to Amphilanthus" WWRE 398-415   
 

Self-Fashioning/ Life Writing

 
Thursday, November 8 Grace Lady Mildmay & Lady Anne Clifford, biographical excerpts WWRE 208-27, 245-75  
Tuesday, November 13 The Lady Falkland Her Life by One of Her Daughters, Mariam  
Thursday, November 15 Cavendish, "A True Relation of My Birth and Breeding," PB  
 

Aphra Behn: Penning a Career

 
Tuesday, November 20 Aphra Behn, Oronooko OR 73-142 73-142  
Thursday, November 22

Thanksgiving Day - No Classes

 
Tuesday, November 27 Behn,  The Rover OR 73-142    
Thursday, November 29

Festive Finale: A Celebration of Women Writers

Final Presentation