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It is a commonplace that English literary criticism evolved during the eighteenth century. This seminar is designed to offer a survey of key eighteenth-century poetic and literary theories, retracing transitions from Neoclassicism to Romanticism and thus exploring the emergence of modern literary criticism. We shall study a range of texts from Alexander Pope`s neoclassical verse essays and Samuel Johnson`s “common sense” and yet deeply conservative approach to English literature, to new theories of the sublime (Joseph Addison; Edmund Burke), new reader response approaches to literature (Lord Kames et al.), and finally pre-Romantic notions of genius and originality (Edward Young).
A moodle platform with all required reading material will be available by the beginning of term.
Recommended Introductory Reading:
Domsch, Sebastian. The Emergence of Literary Criticism in 18th-Century Britain: Discourse between Attacks and Authority (Buchreihe der Anglia/Anglia Book Series). Berlin: de Gruyter, 2014.
The Lektürekurs is designed as a critical accompaniment to the seminar, allowing us t study closely and to discuss critically approaches to eighteenth-century literary criticism.
A moodle platform with all required reading material will be available by the beginning of term. |
