English
English (ENGL) Professors: Greg J. H. Clingham, Saundra K. Morris, Michael D. Payne, John S. Rickard, Harold Schweizer (Chair) Associate Professors: Paula Closson Buck, Glynis Carr, Carmen Gillespie, Ghislaine G. McDayter, Jean Peterson, Harriet Pollack, Meenakshi Ponnuswami Assistant Professors: Christopher A. Camuto, Mara deGennaro, Michael J. Drexler, Eric S. Faden, Sherri Geller, Shara M. McCallum, James Peterson, Robert A. Rosenberg, Alfred K. Siewers, G. C. Waldrep III, Virginia Zimmerman The Bucknell English department provides students with opportunities for intensive study in language and literature. Courses in English introduce students to important works of literary art in the English and American literary traditions, to other national and regional literary traditions in English, and to diverse and multicultural voices and traditions. Students in English classes learn to express themselves critically and creatively, developing analytical and communication skills that will serve them well in their other University courses and in their professional lives following their education at Bucknell. Majors in English find themselves well prepared for graduate school in English and creative writing, for teaching, for law school and other professional schools, and for careers in publishing, management, advertising, and other professions requiring creativity, careful attention to language and critical thinking. Kinds of Departmental Course Offerings The department of English offers four kinds of courses, all of which are intended to contribute to the liberal education of students regardless of their majors and to offer a coherent program of study for the student majoring in English: • Those including considerable emphasis on English composition, along with the study of literature, intended primarily as first-year courses. Not more than two first-year course credits (including advanced placement) can be counted toward a Bucknell degree. • Those dealing with a specific author, special topic, genre, or period of literature. • Those dealing with the theoretical and practical nature of criticism, the history of the English language and theories of grammar, the history and analysis of film, and methods of teaching composition and literature. • Those providing students with the opportunity to develop abilities in creative writing. The Major in English: The minimum requirement for a major in English is eight courses beyond the 100 level. Students majoring in English must distribute their courses as follows: • In five periods of English or American literature – Medieval (to 1485); The Renaissance (1485-1660); 18th-century British/Early American; 19th Century; and Modern Literature. • One designated survey course that studies a body of literature spanning more than one historical period. • Two seminars. The English department urges majors to take the designated survey requirement early in their major coursework, as this requirement is designed to introduce students to important questions concerning literary history relevant to the broader concerns of the major. Students who are considering continuing their studies in graduate school are urged to take at least one course in literary theory. Note: Courses in women’s literature, cultural studies minority literature, and literary theory fulfill requirements for historical periods, surveys, or seminars when so organized. Concentration in Creative Writing The concentration in creative writing combines the core requirements of the English major with a series of courses in creative writing. This option allows students to learn to write creatively and artistically while encountering models for good writing through the study of literature. Neither the foundation seminar in creative writing (ENGL 090) nor the multi-genre introductory course (ENGL 106) count toward the requirements for the concentration. Students electing the concentration in creative writing will take a minimum of eight courses, including: • A survey course in literature • One course in literature before the 19th century • One course in 19th-century literature • One course in 20th-century literature • ENGL 201 Creative Writing: Topics in Form and Style • ENGL 202 Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction or ENGL 203 Introduction to Creative Writing: Nonfiction • ENGL 204 Creative Writing: Poetry • One seminar in creative writing. There are three minors available in the department of English: • The English minor in American literature consists of five courses in English above the 100 level. At least three of the five courses must be in the study of American literature. One of the five courses must be a seminar. • The English minor in British literature consists of five courses above the 100 level. At least three of the five courses must be in the study of British literature. One of the five courses must be a seminar. • The English minor in Creative Writing requires five courses, four of which must be selected from among the following:
ENGL 201 Topics in Form and Theory
ENGL 202 Creative Writing – Fiction
ENGL 203 Creative Writing – Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 204 Creative Writing – Poetry
ENGL 303 Seminar in Writing Creative Nonfiction
ENGL 308 Seminar in Writing Poetry
ENGL 309 Seminar in Writing Fiction
The fifth course must be a literature class above the 100 level in which fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction is studied as a genre (e.g., Survey of the Novel, Seminar in Poetry, The Modern Novel, etc.) Neither ENGL 090 nor ENGL 106 counts toward the minor. Honors in English The student, under the guidance of a staff member, undertakes a specifically tailored sequence of courses and independent work culminating in an honors thesis, evaluated by a panel of three faculty members. It is also possible to write a departmental honors thesis without applying for Honors in English. Students writing theses should enroll in ENGL 379 (Senior Thesis) during the semester in which they plan to complete the thesis. For information on teaching English and communication in secondary school, see Professor Morris. First-year Courses 90. Foundation Seminar in English (I and II; 3, 0)
This course deals with literary texts as cultural documents shaped by historical, political, religious, and philosophical concerns, as well as by processes of creative imagination. Close attention will be given to the development of students’ writing and information retrieval skills. Prerequisite: first-year students only. 98. Myth, Reason, Faith (I or II; 4, 0)
This course, which is also a Foundation Seminar, is designed to introduce students to some of the most significant works in the Western intellectual tradition. Works by major writers from Homer to Dante will be studied. Crosslisted as CLAS 98, HUMN 98, and PHIL 98. 101. Literature and Composition (I and II; 3, 0)
Introduction to the critical study of literature and instruction in composition. First-year students only; others by permission of instructor. 106. Literature and Creative Writing (I and II; 3, 0)
Introduction to creative writing through the reading and writing of poetry and prose (fiction or creative nonfiction). Does not count toward the creative writing concentration or minor. Prerequisite: seniors by permission of the instructor. 107. Introduction to World Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
This course introduces students to literary works from several countries, covering five continents and many cultures. It also provides instruction in composition. Prerequisite: first-year students only; others by permission. 120. Literature and the Environment (I; 3, 0)
Interdisciplinary study of major texts which demonstrate an abiding interest in nature and in cultural and social values concerning the environment. 130. Writing about Film (I or II; 3, 0)
Introduction to film grammar, history, genres, and movements in world cinema using theoretical texts and primary source films. Emphasis on writing and critical thinking skills. 140. Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies (II; 3, 0)
Interdisciplinary introduction to the major theories, themes, methodologies, and issues of women’s and gender studies. Emphasis on the humanities. Crosslisted as WMST 140. 150. Art, Nature, and Knowledge (I or II; 4, 0)
Interdisciplinary study of selected works in art, music, literature, science, and philosophy from the Renaissance through the 19th century. Crosslisted as HUMN 150, PHIL 150 and RESC 150. General Literature Courses 217. Studies in Dramatic Literature (AI, II; R; 3, 0)
Selected movements and topics in drama such as Restoration drama, African American dramatic literature, the Theatre of the Absurd. 218. Studies in Children’s Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Fairy tales, fantasy, animal fables, and tales of adventure from 19th-20th centuries, with a sampling of contemporary films, primarily American. 220. Young Adult Fiction (I or II; 3, 0)
Study of literature that appeals to adolescent and young adult readers, with particular emphasis on British and American fiction and non-fiction prose from the 19th century to the present. 223. Survey of Women’s Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Historical survey of literature by women, from the medieval period to the present; texts drawn from a variety of national traditions in the English language. 226. Irish Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Introduction to Irish literature, with attention to Irish mythology, history, and politics as they affect Irish art. 227. Caribbean Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Introduction to selected literature of the Caribbean, with close analysis of text and context. 228. Topics in Gender Studies (I or II; 3, 0)
Topics include constructions of gender identities, homosexualities, GLBT cultures, hate crimes, sexual violence, or activism. 230. Nihilism, Modernism, Uncertainty (I; 3, 0)
Presents major modern figures and concepts, with examples from painting, music, literature, philosophy, and science. Prerequisites: ENGL 98 and ENGL 150. Crosslisted as HUMN 250 and PHIL 250. 280. Modern Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
A selective introduction to the varied forms, significant authors, and literary movements from the turn of the century to the recent past. 286. The Modern Novel (I or II; 3, 0)
Selected major novelists (English, Irish, continental, American). 287. Modern Drama (II; 3, 0)
Studies in modern dramatic literature, theatre history, and performance theory. 288. Studies in Contemporary Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
An intensive study of selected British and American authors of the past 40 years. 290. Special Topics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Flexible in subject matter and in method. Topics such as Literature and Psychology, Literature and Myth, Science Fiction. 298. Introduction to Literary Theory ( I or II; R; 3, 0)
The nature and function of literary criticism, theoretical and practical. 299. Surveys of English and American Literature (II; 3, 0)
A survey of major authors, texts, concepts, and developments in English and American literature with participation of weekly guest lecturers from the English department. English Literature Courses 240. Medieval English Literature to 1485 (AII; 3, 0)
Survey of the poetry and prose of medieval England. 243. Chaucer (I; 3, 0)
The major works and language of Chaucer. 250. Renaissance Literature, 1485-1660 (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Survey of the poetry and prose of representative authors, including Spenser and Milton. 251. Studies in Renaissance Literature (I, II; R; 3, 0)
Selected major prose and poetry. 257. Shakespeare (I or II; 3, 0)
Selected plays. 258. Studies in Shakespeare (II; 3, 0)
Studies in such special topics as ‘‘Shakespeare and Film,’’ ‘‘Shakespeare’s History Plays,’’ ‘‘Psychoanalysis and Shakespeare.’’ 260. Restoration and 18th-century Literature (II; 3, 0)
Survey of the poetry and prose of representative authors. 261. Studies in Restoration and 18th-century Literature (I; R; 3, 0)
Selected authors and various genres, including the relationship between literature and politics, history, and the sciences. 270. Romantic Literature, 1780-1832 (I; 3, 0)
Examination of selected authors in poetry and prose, read in relationship to contemporary political and cultural influences. 271. Studies in 19th-century English Literature (I, II; R; 3, 0)
Selected major prose and poetry. 283. The Early English Novel (I; 3, 0)
The rise of the novel as a genre, and analysis of representative novels. 284. The 19th-century English Novel (II; 3, 0)
Major developments in the novel as a genre and representative novels. 285. Modern British and American Poetry, 1890-1960 (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Selected major poets of England, the United States, and other English-speaking cultures. American Literature Courses 205. Early American Colonial Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Study of American literature from Columbus through the American Revolution. 206. Early American National Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Study of American literature from the Revolution to the Civil War. 207. American Romanticism (I or II; 3, 0)
Examination of selected texts in various genres, read in their cultural contexts. 208. American Realism and Naturalism (I; 3, 0)
Study of selected texts by American writers from 1865 to 1900. 209. Modern American Literature (II; 3, 0)
Study of selected texts by American writers from 1900 to 1950. 212. Contemporary American Literature (I; 3,0)
Study of selected texts by American writers from 1950 to the present. 213. Special Topics in American Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Selected special topics in American literature. 214. Nineteenth-century American Women Writers (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Surveys both major and non-canonical writers and explores relationships between gender, reading, and writing, in American cultural contexts. 215. Twentieth-century American Women Writers (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Selected women writers placed in dialogue with one another and with 20th-century American and women’s literary traditions. 216. Studies in American Literary Genres (I or II; 3, 0)
Study of a selected genre of texts in American literature. 219. Studies in Selected American Authors (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Authors selected from among Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Dickinson, Cather, Melville, Wharton, James, H.D., Frost, Hemingway, Faulkner, O’Neill, Stein, Welty, O’Connor, and Morrison. 221. African American Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Introduction to selected texts founded upon the Black experience in America. Courses in Language and Pedagogy 295. The Stories of English (I or II; 3, 0)
The origins and development of the English language. 297. The Teaching of English (I; 3, 0)
Discussion and practice related to the teaching of English in secondary schools. Required for 7th to 12th grade certification in English. Literature Seminars Capstone seminars listed as ENGL in the Schedule of Classes also satisfy the seminar requirement for the major. 300. Introduction to Graduate Studies (I; 3, 0)
Introduction to graduate study, including literary and critical theory, research, and other elements of literary scholarship. Opened to advanced undergraduates. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 301. Seminar in American Literature Topics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Advanced topics, such as Cross-Cultural Encounters, The American Novel, Gender and American Poetics, and Beat Generation. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 302. Seminar in Selected American Writers (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Study of the works of one or more major American writers. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 305. Seminar in Early American Literature (I; 3, 0)
Seminar in a special topic or genre of Early American and/or 18th-century American culture. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 307. Seminar in 19th-century American Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Seminar in a special topic, author, or genre of 19th-century American literature and culture. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 310. Seminar in Modern American Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Seminar in a special topic, author or genre of modern American literature and culture. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 311. Seminar in Contemporary American Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Seminar in a special topic, author, or genre of contemporary American literature and culture. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 319. Individual Projects (I and II; R)
Individual, special projects supervised by instructor; honors thesis. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 321. Seminar in African American Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Study of selected thematic, aesthetic, and ideological issues in Black American writing. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 323. Seminar in Women’s Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Advanced topics investigating relationships between gender, writing, and reading. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 326. Seminar in Irish Literature (I or II; R: 3, 0)
Advanced topics in Irish literature, including Irish Women Writers, Nationalism and Literature, and Contemporary Irish Writing. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 327. Seminar in Caribbean Studies (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Study of selected thematic, aesthetic, and ideological issues in Caribbean writing. 340. Seminar in Early English Literature to 1485 (I or II; R; 3, 0)
The language and literature of Anglo-Saxon or medieval England. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 350. Seminar in Renaissance Literature (I; R; 3, 0)
Special topics. Student reports, oral and written. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 358. Seminar in Shakespeare (II; 3, 0)
Special topics. Student reports, oral and written. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 360. Seminar in Restoration and 18th-century Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Studies in canonical and marginalized texts, cultural and philosophical formations, and the continuing historical and theoretical relevance of the period. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 370. Seminar in 19th-century English Literature (I; R; 3, 0)
Examination of a wide range of poetry and prose by selected authors with emphasis given to the literature’s historical and cultural groundings. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 378. Thesis Workshop (I; 3, 0)
A colloquium on problems arising from the writing of a scholarly thesis. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 379. Senior Thesis (II; 3, 0)
The writing of a scholarly or creative honors or senior departmental thesis. Students must confer with and submit a proposal to an adviser prior to registering for the thesis. Prerequisites: senior status and permission of the instructor. 381. Seminar in 20th-century British Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
In-depth study of selected modern authors (such as Yeats, Joyce, H.D., Conrad, Woolf) and of the literary tendencies of the period. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 382. Seminar in Contemporary Literature (I or II; R; 3, 0)
A selective study of the most recent developments in English and American prose or poetry. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 391. Seminar in Poetry (I or II; R; 3, 0)
A study of poetry as a genre and an analysis of the work of selected poets. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 392. Seminar in the Novel (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Special topics. Student reports, oral and written. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 393. Seminar in Contemporary Drama (AI or II; R; 3, 0)
Special topics. Student reports, oral and written. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 397. Seminar in Special Topics (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Topics such as comparative literature, literature and the arts, queer theory, or satire. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 398. Seminar in Literary/Critical Theory (I or II; R; 3, 0)
The study of Continental and American critical positions or schools from Modernism through Post-Structuralism. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 450. Capstone in Renaissance Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Special topics. Interdisciplinary study of the Renaissance. 460. Law and Literature (I or II; 3, 0)
Studies in the relationship between law, narrative and social and fictional forms in the 18th century and modern Britain and America as these raise questions about identity, justice, historical powers, God, and the nature of civil obligations. 470. Capstone in 19th-century Studies (I or II; 3, 0)
Special topics. Interdisciplinary study of 19th-century Britain. 499. Seminar in Cultural Studies (I or II; 3, 0)
Introduction to significant issues and debates characterizing the field known as Cultural Studies. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Creative Writing Advanced courses in creative writing are conducted as workshops; therefore enrollment in these courses is restricted. ENGL 303, ENGL 308 and ENGL 309 may be repeated for credit. Individual projects in writing (e.g., a novel or a collection of verse) may be taken under the rubric of ENGL 319. 201. Creative Writing: Topics in Form and Theory (I and II; 3, 0)
Studies in such special topics as prosody, stylistics, characterization, or narrative theory. Courses emphasize formal or structural elements within particular genres and an appreciation of craft from a writer's perspective. 202. Introduction to Creative Writing: Fiction (I or II; 3, 0)
Principles of writing fiction, with constant practice. Designed for students planning to concentrate or minor in creative writing. Preference to first-year, sophomore, and junior students. Prerequisite: seniors by permission of the instructor. 203. Introduction Creative Writing: Creative: Nonfiction (I or II; 3, 0)
Theory and practice of creative nonfiction, including travel writing, memoir, and other forms. Designed for students planning to concentrate or minor in creative writing. Preference to first-year, sophomore, and junior students. Prerequisite: seniors by permission of the instructor. 204. Introduction to Creative Writing: Poetry (I or II; 3, 0)
Principles of the writing of poetry, with constant practice. Designed for students planning to concentrate or mior in creative writing. Preference to first-year, sophomore, and junior students. Prerequisite: seniors by permission of the instructor. 303. Seminar in Creative Nonfiction (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Advanced workshop in writing of creative nonfiction. Prerequisites: ENGL 202 or ENGL 203 and permission of the instructor. 304. Poet-In-Residence's Poetry Workshop (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Taught by a distinguished visiting poet, this workshop in writing poetry is open to students who have taken at least one introductory creative writing course. May be repeated if taught by a different visiting poet. Prerequisite: ENGL 106 or 201. 308. Seminar in Writing Poetry (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Advanced workshop in writing poetry. Prerequisites: ENGL 204 and permission of the instructor. 309. Seminar in Writing Fiction (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Advanced workshop in writing fiction. Prerequisites: ENGL 202 or ENGL 203 and permission of the instructor. Courses in Film Studies 231. Pre- and Early Cinema (I or II; 3; 0)
Traces cinema’s technological ancestors and examines film’s profoundly different possibilities and alternatives prior to 1918. Weekly screenings illustrate cinema’s various functions in its earliest years. 232. Film History I (I or II; 3, 0)
World cinema history from 1918 to 1945. Weekly screenings. 233. Film History II (I or II; 3, 0)
World cinema history from 1945 to present. Weekly screenings. 234. National Cinemas (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Concentration on the history and style of a particular national cinema. Weekly screenings. 235. Gender and Film (I or II; 3, 0)
Current debates about gender and American film, from WW II to the present. Diverse critical approaches for interpreting film within the broad context of gender studies. 238. Special Topic in Film Studies (I or II; R; 3, 0)
Examination of a specialized topic in film studies. Weekly screenings. 332. Seminar in Film and Technology (I or II; 3, 0)
Traces technology’s impact on film form and content. Topics include early cinema, sound technology, widescreen, and computer-generated images. Weekly screenings. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 336. Seminar in Film Genres and Auteurs (I or II; 3, 0)
Examination of a particular genre (film noir, Hong Kong action movies, Westerns, etc.), director, cinematographer, screenwriter, or producer. Weekly screenings. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. 337. Seminar in Film Theory (I or II; 3, 0)
Survey of approaches to film analysis and critique, ranging from realist/formalist debates to psychoanalytic, feminist, and semiotics approaches. Weekly screenings. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. 339. Special Topic in Film Studies (I or II; 3, 0)
Examination of a specialized topic in film studies. Weekly screenings. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
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