English Language and Literature
English
Language & Literature courses
English department undergraduate program
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Director of undergraduate studies: Amy Hungerford; associate director of undergraduate studies: Caleb Smith; 107 LC, 432-2233, ruben.roman@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Professors
Elizabeth Alexander, Harold Bloom, Leslie Brisman, David Bromwich, Jill Campbell, Janice Carlisle, Michael Denning, Wai Chee Dimock, Anne Fadiman (Adjunct), Roberta Frank, Paul Fry, Louise Glück (Adjunct), Sara Suleri Goodyear, Langdon Hammer, Margaret Homans, Amy Hungerford, David Scott Kastan, Traugott Lawler (Emeritus), Pericles Lewis, Lawrence Manley, Donald Margulies (Adjunct), J. D. McClatchy (Adjunct), Alastair Minnis, Annabel Patterson (Emeritus), Lee Patterson, Linda Peterson, Caryl Phillips, David Quint, Claude Rawson, Joseph Roach, Marc Robinson, John Rogers, Robert Stepto, Katie Trumpener, Michael Warner, Ruth Yeazell
Associate Professors
Ala Alryyes, Murray Biggs (Adjunct), Jessica Brantley, Stefanie Markovits
Assistant Professors
Susan Chambers, Ian Cornelius, Paul Grimstad, Justin Neuman, Catherine Nicholson, Jessica Pressman, Sam See, Caleb Smith, Brian Walsh, John Williams
Senior Lecturers
James Berger, Amy Bloom, John Crowley, Richard Maxwell, Fred Strebeigh
Lecturers
Jill Abramson, Edward Barnaby, Emily Barton (Visiting), Steven Brill, Richard Deming, Andrew Ehrgood, Charles Euchner, Joseph Gordon, Karin Gosselink, Alfred Guy, Kevin Hicks, Rosemary Jones, Penelope Laurans, John Loge, Raymond Malewitz, Allyson Polsky McCabe, Christopher R. Miller, Mark Oppenheimer, Paula Resch, Aaron Ritzenberg, Timothy Robinson, Pamela Schirmeister, Kim Shirkhani, Catherine Shufro, Margaret Spillane, Michele Stepto, Barbara Stuart, Deborah Tenney, Leslie Woodard, Suzanne Young, Cynthia Zarin
Courses offered by the Department of English are designed to develop students' understanding of important works of English, American, and other literatures in English; to provide historical perspectives from which to read and analyze these works; and to deepen students' insight into their own experience. Courses also aim to develop students' abilities to express their ideas orally and in writing.
Introductory courses. Courses numbered from 114 to 149 are introductory. Students planning to elect an introductory course in English should refer to the Freshman Handbook, which contains an explanation of the levels of placement and of the guidelines according to which courses should be chosen. The course listings in this bulletin contain a detailed description of each course.
Prerequisite. It is valuable for students majoring in English to have both a detailed understanding of major poets who have written in English and some acquaintance with the classics of European and American literature. The prerequisite for the major is ENGL 125a, 126b. It is strongly recommended that prospective English majors take at least one term of ENGL 125a, 126b by the end of the sophomore year. If a student takes two terms of ENGL 125a, 126b, then any two terms of ENGL 115–117, 127–130, or DRST 001a, 002b in the Directed Studies program, or THST 110a, 111b, or ENGL 114a in combination with 115b, 116b, or 117b, may count toward the twelve remaining terms in the major. If ENGL 125a, 126b is not taken, two terms of ENGL 127–130 or DRST 001a, 002b may count as the prerequisite so long as the student also takes, as part of the major, four advanced courses that deal substantially and intensively with poets included in ENGL 125a, 126b. Two of these courses should substitute for two of the three units in ENGL 125a (Chaucer, Spenser, and a Renaissance lyric poet), and two should substitute for two of the four units in ENGL 126b (Milton, Pope, Wordsworth, and a major modern poet). Courses that deal with more than one poet are acceptable for this purpose. Such courses may also count toward the requirement of three term courses in English literature before 1800 and one term course in English literature before 1900.
Regardless of how the prerequisite is fulfilled, the total number of term courses toward the major may not be fewer than fourteen, of which no more than four may be introductory (below the level of 150).
Advanced courses. Courses numbered 150 and above are open to upperclassmen after two terms of English or with permission of the instructor. Departmental seminars are intended primarily for junior and senior English majors. Sophomores and nonmajors may be admitted where openings are available. Students are strongly encouraged to consult the director of undergraduate studies, the departmental representative in their residential college, and their departmental adviser for advice about their course choices.
When choosing courses, students should bear in mind that the English department's lecture courses and seminars play different roles in the curriculum. Lecture courses cover major periods and genres of English and American literature. They serve as general surveys of their subjects, and are typically offered every year or every other year. Seminars, by contrast, offer more specialized or intensive treatment of their topics, or engage topics not addressed in the lecture courses (for example, topics that span periods and genres). While seminars are often offered more than once, students should not expect the same seminars to be offered from one year to the next. Sophomores and juniors are encouraged to enroll in lecture courses in order to gain broad perspectives in preparation for more specialized study.
The major. Each student, in consultation with a departmental faculty adviser, bears the responsibility for designing a coherent program, which must include the following elements.
The major for the Class of 2010. Each student must take: (1) three term courses in literature written in English before 1800, and one term course in literature written in English before 1900, all representing a variety of periods and figures. Courses satisfying this requirement are indicated by the phrase "Pre-1800" or "Pre-1900" in the course listings. Pre-1800 courses can, by definition, satisfy the pre-1900 requirement; (2) at least one seminar in both the junior and the senior years. The nature of senior seminars (400-level literature seminars) is discussed below.
The major for the Class of 2011 and subsequent classes. Each student must take: (1) three term courses in literature written in English before 1800, one term course in literature written in English before 1900, and one term course in American literature, all representing a variety of periods and figures. Courses satisfying this requirement are indicated by the phrase "Pre-1800," "Pre-1900," or "Amer" in the course listings. Pre-1800 courses can, by definition, satisfy the pre-1900 requirement. Courses in American literature in the pre-1800 or pre-1900 periods can satisfy both one of the period requirements and the American requirement; (2) at least one seminar in both the junior and the senior years. The nature of senior seminars (400-level literature seminars) is discussed below.
Certain residential college seminars, with permission of the director of undergraduate studies, may be substituted for a departmental seminar; courses in creative writing may not. Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the major.
A student whose program meets these requirements may count toward the major two upper-level literature courses in other departments, whether in English translation or in another language; alternatively, the student may count one such literature course and, with the permission of an adviser, one other upper-level course in any subject that is relevant to the student's major in English. Such courses may not be counted toward the pre-1800 or the pre-1900 requirement. Two courses in creative writing may be counted toward the major. A student may petition the director of undergraduate studies for permission to include a third writing course.
In exceptional cases, a student whose interests and aims are well defined may, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies, work out a program of study departing from the usual requirements of the major. Such a program must, however, meet the stated general criteria of range and coherence. For interdepartmental programs that include courses covering English literature, see the Literature Major; Directed Studies; American Studies; African American Studies; Theater Studies; Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and Teacher Preparation and Education Studies.
Students considering graduate work in English should be aware that a reading knowledge of certain classical and modern European languages is ordinarily required for admission to graduate study.
Library requirement. The English department requires all majors either to complete a ninety-minute research session for English majors or to take a seminar that has a significant research component. Such courses are indicated by the designation "Libr" in the course listings. Students who elect to take the library research session must do so no later than the second term of their junior year, and they are strongly encouraged to take it during their sophomore year. Students should register on the Yale Library Web site. For questions, students should contact the director of undergraduate studies.
Senior requirement for the Class of 2010. The senior requirement may be satisfied in one of two ways: by a senior seminar taken in the senior year, as described below; or by a senior essay (ENGL 490a or b).
Senior requirement for the Class of 2011 and subsequent classes. Students must complete a two-course senior requirement consisting of one of the following combinations: (1) a senior seminar and a senior essay; (2) two departmental seminars, one of which must be a senior seminar; (3) a two-term senior essay, with permission of the director of undergraduate studies; (4) a senior seminar or senior essay followed by the senior project in the writing concentration. Students who wish to complete the senior requirement by the end of the fall term of the senior year may begin it in the spring of the junior year.
Senior seminar. Senior seminars are open to interested juniors as well, but one must be taken in the senior year to fulfill the senior requirement. These courses, usually numbered 400–449, are listed in the section "Senior Seminars" in the printed YCPS. Seniors, with the permission of the director of undergraduate studies and the instructor, may arrange to take a junior seminar for senior seminar credit. The final essay written for a senior seminar should provide an appropriate culmination to the student's work in the major and in Yale College. It should rest on substantial independent work and should be approximately twenty double-spaced pages in length. In researching and writing the essay, the student should consult regularly with the seminar instructor, and may consult with other faculty members as well.
The senior essay. The senior essay is an independent literary-critical project on a topic of the student's own design, which is undertaken in regular consultation with a faculty adviser. It should ordinarily be written on a topic in an area on which the student has focused in previous studies. See ENGL 490a or b for the procedure. Students in the Class of 2010 who choose to write a senior essay must take a seminar during their senior year, but it need not be a 400-level seminar. Students in the Class of 2011 and subsequent classes fulfilling the senior requirement through a two-term senior essay or through a senior essay followed by the senior writing concentration project must take a seminar during their senior year, but it need not be a 400-level seminar.
Writing courses. Besides introductory courses that concentrate on the writing of expository prose (ENGL 114a or b, 115a or b, 116a or b, 117b, 120a or b), the English department offers several introductory, intermediate, and advanced creative writing courses (ENGL 140–141 and 450–469). These courses are open to all students on the basis of the instructor's judgment of their work. Instructions for the submission of writing samples for admission to creative writing seminars and workshops are available in 107 LC and on the English department Web site. Students may in some cases arrange a tutorial in writing (ENGL 470a or b), normally after having taken intermediate and advanced writing courses. All students interested in creative writing courses should also consult the current listing of residential college seminars.
The writing concentration. The writing concentration is a special course of study open to students in the English major with demonstrated interest and achievement in writing. Admission is competitive. Interested English majors normally apply for admission to the concentration during the second term of their junior year. Application can also be made during the first term of the senior year. Every student admitted to the concentration must complete at least eleven literature courses as well as the other requirements of the major. Students admitted to the writing concentration may count up to four 400-level courses in writing toward completion of the B.A. degree in English; the four courses must include at least two courses in one genre and at least one course in another genre. Residential college seminars are not acceptable for credit toward the writing concentration, except by permission of the director of undergraduate studies. As one of the four writing courses, each student must complete ENGL 489a or b, The Writing Concentration Senior Project, a tutorial in which students produce a single sustained piece of writing or a portfolio of shorter works. For the Class of 2010, the senior project does not replace the senior requirement in the major (a senior seminar or senior essay). For the Class of 2011 and subsequent classes, the writing concentration senior project may be offered in partial fulfillment of the senior requirement.
Juniors applying to the writing concentration must do so by noon on April 13, 2010. Seniors applying must do so by November 20, 2009. Students are admitted selectively on the overall strength of their performance in the major and on the quality of their writing samples.
Advising. The student planning a program of study in English should consult as early as possible with the appropriate residential college departmental representative:
| BK | J. Rogers | MC | L. Brisman | |
| BR | L. Peterson [F]; R. Frank [Sp] | PC | S. Markovits | |
| CC | to be announced | SY | M. Robinson | |
| DC | A. Hungerford | SM | C. Miller | |
| TD | to be announced | ES | P. Fry | |
| JE | D. Bromwich | TC | J. Carlisle | |
Schedules for all majors must be discussed with, and approved by, a faculty adviser from the English department, the director of undergraduate studies, or the associate director of undergraduate studies. Only then may they be submitted to the residential college dean's office. During the sixth term, each student completes a statement outlining progress in the major, in consultation with the student's adviser.
Applications and prospectuses for ENGL 490a or b and writing samples for admission to writing courses are received in the office of the English major in 107 LC. Prospectuses and applications for senior essays should be submitted during the designated sign-up period in the term before enrollment is intended. Enrollment lists for seminars and lists of approved senior essays and individual writing projects are posted in 107 LC.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisite: ENGL 125a, 126b or, with 4 addtl courses in major English poets, two terms selected from DRST 001a, 002b, ENGL 127a or b, or ENGL 129a, 130b
Number of courses: 14 term courses (incl prereq and senior req)
Distribution of courses: Class of 2010—3 courses in lit in English before 1800, and 1 course in lit in English before 1900, all representing a variety of figures and periods; 2 sems, 1 in junior, 1 in senior year; no more than 4 intro-level courses; Class of 2011 and later classes—3 courses in lit in English before 1800, 1 course in lit in English before 1900, and 1 course in American lit, all representing a variety of figures and periods; 2 sems, 1 in junior, 1 in senior year; no more than 4 intro-level courses
Substitution permitted: 2 upper-level lit courses in other depts or, with permission, 1 upper-level lit course and 1 addtl upper-level course in other depts may count toward the major; 2 creative writing courses (ENGL 140–141, 450–469) may count toward the major; college sem designated by DUS for sem
Other: Library research session or Libr sem
Senior requirement: Class of 2010—1 senior sem (ENGL 400–449) in senior year, or senior essay (ENGL 490a or b); Class of 2011 and later classes—1 senior sem (ENGL 400–449) and senior essay (ENGL 490a or b); or 2 sems in senior year, 1 of which is a senior sem; or, with DUS permission, two-term senior essay; or 1 senior sem or senior essay and writing concentration senior project (ENGL 489a or b)
