A survey of British literature

More about the book

This coursebook is designed for students who have completed an introductory literature course, providing a survey of British literature from the 16th century to around 1800. It caters to the practical needs of students in a modular literature course, offering hands-on material for a semester's study. The book covers selected texts by major writers from the early Renaissance to the late 18th century, leading into Romanticism. Students will engage with literary texts for class discussions, learn to navigate critical literature independently or collaboratively, prepare presentations and handouts, and write short or term papers. They will also analyze texts concerning genre and cultural context while deepening their understanding of literary theory. The book's structure supports daily classroom use: Part A includes course materials with suggestions for text engagement, critical literature lists, and paper topics; Part B provides bibliographical resources and academic websites; Part C features three modular exams for knowledge assessment; and Part D contains a glossary of literary terms, including rhetorical figures and key concepts for analyzing poetry, prose, and drama. A brief overview of the accepted periods of British literature concludes the book.