Ireland, Swift, England: special author course
Proposed to be offered next in 1996
C Probyn
12 points * 2 hours per week * Second semester * Clayton
A detailed study of the works (prose and verse) of Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) in their cultural and political contexts. Students will be encouraged to work from original texts, and to become familiar with the manuscript/print culture of the period. Topics will include Swift's changing political ideologies; paradox and irony as modes of writing; Irish and English cultural contexts (eg, mercantilism, England as `centre,' Ireland as `margin'); poetry and misogyny; Swift and post-structuralist critical theory.
Assessment
Seminar paper (1500 words): 25% * Short essay (2500 words): 25% * Long essay (4000-5000 words): 50%
Prescribed texts
Ross A and Woolley D (eds) Jonathan Swift Oxford authors OUP
Swift J A tale of a tub (any complete, reliable text)
Rogers P (ed.) Swift's poetry OUP
Coursebook of secondary and supplementary readings, English Dept, Monash U