1 E363 Milton

Spring 2020 Instructor: Dr. Zachary Hines MWF 2:00-3:00 Unique #: 35590

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of coursework in English or Rhetoric and Writing

Description: This course introduces students to John Milton, one of the most important poets in the English tradition, through selections of his poetry, prose, and correspondence. In reading major works produced during several distinct phases of the author’s career, we will pay particular attention to Milton’s engagement with the religious and political controversies of the seventeenth century. In addition to Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, students will consider the “dramatic” tragedy Samson Agonistes, his most celebrated prose work Areopagitica, and several other poems, tracts, and letters. The possible discovery in 2019 of Milton’s personal copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio will also serve as our entry into book history: considering how the publication history of Milton’s works affected his reception by contemporary and later readers, our discussions will touch on issues ranging from censorship and abridgement to licensing and copyright.

Primary Texts: The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton [Random House, 2007; ISBN 9780679642534]

Requirements: There will be two examinations worth 20% each, a final paper worth 20%, and a presentation worth 20%. Attendance and participation will count for 20% of the final course grade. In-class presentations will be assigned in which each student will lead our class discussion at least once. Short reading quizzes may also be given at the discretion of the instructor.

Grading: Exam 1 20% Exam 2 20% Final Paper 20% Discussion Leadership 20% Participation 20%

Grades in this course will be calculated according to the following scale: A (93-100), A- (90- 92.99), B+ (86.5-89.99), B (83.5-86.49), B- (80-83.49), C+ (76.5-79.99), C (73.5-76.49), C- (70-73.49), D+ (66.5-69.99), D (63.5-66.49), D- (60-63.49), F (59.99 and below).

Policies Honor Code: The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community. The new Student Honor Code states: "As a student of The University of Texas at Austin, I shall abide by the core values of the University and uphold academic integrity." 2

Academic Integrity: Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student's own work. For additional information on Academic Integrity, see http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acadint.php

Documented Disability Statement: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone) or http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd

Religious Holy Days: By UT Austin policy, you must notify me of your pending absence at least fourteen days prior to the date of observance of a religious holy day. If you must miss a class, an examination, a work assignment, or a project in order to observe a religious holy day, I will give you an opportunity to complete the missed work within a reasonable time after the absence.

Attendance: Regular, punctual attendance is expected. I will take attendance at the beginning of each class period. I expect you to arrive prepared and to participate actively in class discussion. Excessive tardiness and/or inattention will result in loss of participation points or an unexcused absence. Any more than five unexcused absences will result in the lowering of your final grade by one level (e.g. from B+ to B) for each successive unexcused absence. Please contact me if you will have an ongoing issue that may affect your attendance (e.g. health issue, work schedule, child-/elder-care arrangement). If you know you will be unable to attend class due to illness or an emergency, please notify me via email in advance.

Late Work: Late work will be accepted, but the assignment will receive a letter-grade penalty for each class day after the original due date.

Extensions: I am generally happy to give extensions on major assignments, no questions asked. To request an extension, you must email me at least ONE WEEK ahead of the deadline with a new proposed due date. I reserve the right to refuse for any reason. NB: this policy does not typically apply to “Draft” assignments or examinations.

Technology: Cell phones must remain silent and out of sight during class time. Persistent cell phone use during class may result in an unexcused absence. Use of laptops will be permitted only on days where I specifically instruct you to bring a computer to class.

Email: I will gladly answer questions via email during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9-5). If you have questions about an assignment, please ask them as far in advance as possible, as I will not be able to answer them the night before an assignment is due.

3 Schedule [NB: Any changes to the schedule will be published on Canvas.]

Week One January 22 Introductions, syllabi, and course description January 24 The Reason of Church Government (835-44); Christian Doctrine (1140-44); At a Vacation Exercise

Week Two January 27-31 On the Death of a Fair Infant; Prolusions 1 & 7; Elegy 1 January 29 No Class Meeting

Week Three February 3-7 On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity [Nativity Ode]; The Passion; Elegy 6; L’Allegro & Il Penseroso

Week Four February 10-14 On Time; On Shakespeare; Letter to a Friend; Sonnet 7; Ad Patrem [To his Father]; excerpt from Areopagitica

Week Five February 17-21 A Masque Presented at Ludlow Castle [Comus]; An Apology for Smectymnuus

Week Six February 24-28 Diodati Greets Milton [both]; To Charles Diodati [both]; Wotton to Milton; Letter to a Friend; On the Engraver of His Portrait; To John Rouse, Librarian of Oxford University

Week Seven March 2-6 The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce; Tetrachordon

Week Eight March 9 Books of Genesis and Revelation March 11 Examination Preparation March 13 Examination One

Week Nine March 16-20 Spring Break – No class meeting

Week Ten March 23 Paradise Lost Book I March 25 Paradise Lost Book II March 27 Christian Doctrine, Book I, chapters 2-3 and 8-9

4 Week Eleven March 30 Paradise Lost Book III April 1 Paradise Lost Book IV April 3 Froula, “When Eve Reads Milton”

Week Twelve April 6 Paradise Lost Book V April 8 Paradise Lost Book VI April 10 Paradise Lost Book VII

Week Thirteen April 13 Paradise Lost Book VIII; Sonnet 23 April 15 Paradise Lost Book IX April 17 Christian Doctrine, Book 1, chapter 11

Week Fourteen April 20 Paradise Lost Book X April 22 Paradise Lost Book XI April 24 Paradise Lost Book XII

Week Fifteen April 27 How Milton Read his Shakespeare April 29 Areopagitica May 1 Samson Agonistes (to line 725)

Week Sixteen May 4 Samson Agonistes (line 725 to end) May 6 Finis: Evaluations May 8 Examination Two Final Essay Due