9:05A-9:55A MWF (30) 3 cr

The course will concentrate on drama and three major literary
figures from the Restoration and early eighteenth century.  That
means we will read entertaining literature, together with some
background works for understanding the period.  The course will
be in four parts:  Two will be on dramatic comedy (one on
Restoration comedy, and one on early eighteenth-century comedy),
one will be on Dryden and Pope (mostly Dryden), and one will be
on Pope and Swift (mostly Swift).  In the parts III and IV we
will concentrate on satire, but other works will fit in,
particularly with Dryden and Pope.  The comedies, which are
excellent, entertaining, and problematic works of art, will
include plays by Sir George Etherege, Aphra Behn, Thomas
Shadwell, Wm. Wycherley, John Van Brugh, George Farquhar, and Wm.
Congreve.  =20
There will be three essay-type exams plus a final.  Two papers
are required, each of 7-10 pages.  They will come from a list of
topics. You may write more than one paper in each half of the
course, and only the best will count.  Classes will consist of
discussion and lecture.  The basis of the course will be an
understanding of the culture, the assumptions behind belief, and
problems addressed by the works.