English 202 to be replaced by new offering

Prospective English majors, anglophiles and the remainder of students looking for an introduction to English literature may come across a new selection of courses beginning next fall. Pending approval by the University administration, the new curriculum will no longer include ENG 202, Introduction to English Literature: From the 18th Century to the Present. The complementary survey course, ENG 201, Introduction to English Literature: From the 14th to the 18th Century, will take the empty spring slot.

In the fall, the department will offer three new 200-level genre classes under the classification of "Reading Literature" in fiction, poetry and drama, said English Professor Tim Watson.

"Each class will cover material from a range of historical periods, but won't attempt to be a historical survey as 202 currently is," Watson said. "Instead, there will be more attention to close reading of literary texts, and to critical analysis of the formal components of fiction, poetry and drama."

Professors were concerned that students were not introduced to the close analysis of texts early on in the English track, Watson said, which would prove beneficial "before tackling the major writers from the earlier periods of English literature."

While the content of both 201 and 202 has been debated, it is much less clear that any canon of literature exists for the period after 1800, said English Professor Ulrich Knoepflmacher, who has taught both classes. Students will pick up the material typically taught in 202 in other courses anyway, he added.

Watson confirmed the continued need for 201.

"There is broad agreement that the traditional historical survey works well for the material before 1800," Watson said, "and that the extensive influence that these earlier writers — Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare and Milton, especially — had on later writers means that all students should have at least some familiarity with the major writers before 1800."

Students expressed concern over the structure of the introductory English courses. Rachel Zuraw '06 said she believes survey courses are beneficial for students without a basic background in English literature.

However, she sees an inherent weakness in the broad survey format, "You can absorb it or understand it," Zuraw said, "but only superficially. There's only so much you can get from spending two weeks on Chaucer."

Likewise, Professor Oliver Arnold found it a challenge to cover 600 years of literary history in just 24 weeks when he taught the course.

The change is also a response to less than stellar student ratings and reviews. Although student evaluations of 201 and 202 have changed little over the last few years, Watson said, "it's true that large introductory lectures are often not the ones students rave about, and 201 and 202 are no exceptions."

Proposed alterations to the introductory courses have been debated and discussed by the department for several years, said Knoepflmacher, and the department approved this new blueprint after the eight-member Committee on Departmental Students concluded its own deliberations in December.

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More and more students are gravitating toward politics, WWS, and economics, Watson remarked, in response to the new global economy. The department has responded by increasing the number of international literature courses, demonstrating its commitment to global studies.

"I hope that the changes in the English department, including the revisions to the sophomore requirements, will mean that students can see that the study of literature is in fact a decidedly worldly, rather than unworldly, pursuit," Watson said.

Arnold, who has team-taught 201 three times in lecture format, acknowledged this is "one way of addressing concerns of students who are on the fence about the major."

This year an estimated 85 seniors will graduate from the English department, said Arnold, as opposed to 120 three years ago.