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Course Description

The course ENGL 660, "Jane Austen and Her Legacy," is designed to investigate Austen's legacy by familiarizing students with her novels, critical reception, and the inspiration she has provided to other authors across various genres and decades. The course will explore how Austen's work has been adapted for film and television, as well as the fan response to her work, known as "Austenmania." The goal of the course is to discover Austen's contribution to literary and cultural history and understand why her writing endures.

Course Objectives

• To become familiar with and appreciate the narrative forms and themes of Austen's novels and the literature inspired by them.
• To use relevant cultural and historical information when interpreting literature, film, and other cultural texts.
• To participate in lively and informed discussions about the readings and films.
• To develop and apply critical skills for reading, thinking, and writing about several genres.

Required Texts

• Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813) (Pearson Longman Cultural Edition)
• Jane Austen, (1815) (Broadview or Oxford)
• Jane Austen, Mansfield Park (1814) (Norton Critical Edition)
• George Eliot, (1871-2) (Penguin)
• Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse (1927) (Harvest)
• Georgette Heyer, (1965)
• J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999) (Scholastic)
• Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones's Diary (1997) (Knopf)
• Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Quirk Books)
• Class Pack (available at A&S Copy Center in Eisenhower Hall)
• Films: Pride and Prejudice (A&E, 1995); Pride and Prejudice (Dir. Joe Wright, 2005); (1995); Bride and Prejudice (2004); Lost in Austen (T.V. mini-series, Granada, 2008)

Readings and Class Participation

Class participation is expected and will count for 20% of the final grade. This includes contributions to discussions in class and on the online message board. To participate, students must complete the assigned reading for each class session, think carefully about what they have read, and be ready to share their ideas.

Attendance

Attendance is important, but the instructor recognizes that unexpected events may occur. Students will not be penalized for their first absence, but subsequent absences will lower their final course grade. Excessive absences (three or more) or excessive lateness/early departure may result in failure of the course.

Leading Class Discussion

Students will sign up in groups to initiate discussion for one of the class sessions. Questions for class discussion should highlight issues, themes, or queries related to the assigned texts.

Online Message Board

The online message board will be used as another venue for discussion. Each week, each student is required to post at least one paragraph-length comment about the materials being read and discussed in class.

Papers and Response Papers

All students will write one shorter paper (4 pages in length) and either a longer paper (7-8 pages for undergraduates or 8-10 pages for graduates with secondary sources). Students will also write four response papers (2 pages in length) in response to the readings.

Multi-Media Project

Students will choose one of four possible multi-media projects to complete during the semester. The project should demonstrate insight and understanding of the text with which it connects and be thoughtfully constructed and presented professionally.

Examination

There will be a cumulative final exam.

Grading

For undergraduate students, the grading breakdown is as follows:

• Two papers: 35% of the final grade
• Response papers: 15% of the final grade
• Multi-media project: 10% of the final grade
• Class participation: 20% of the final grade
• Final exam: 20% of the final grade

For graduate students, the grading breakdown is as follows:

• Shorter paper: 10% of the final grade
• Essay review: 10% of the final grade
• Longer paper and abstract: 20% of the final grade
• Response papers: 15% of the final grade
• Multi-media project: 10% of the final grade
• Class participation: 20% of the final grade
• Final exam: 15% of the final grade

Schedule of Classes

The schedule of classes is subject to change and includes readings, discussions, and assignments for each class session from January 18 to May 10.