Enlightenment Feminist Literature--English 353 Oberlin College, Spring 1994 Professor Audrey Bilger abilger@benson.mckenna.edu TEXTS: (available at the Co-op Bookstore) The "Other" Eighteenth Century, Eds. Uphaus & Foster The Female Quixote, Charlotte Lennox A Simple Story, Elizabeth Inchbald Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft The Wrongs of Woman, Wollstonecraft (on order) Adeline Mowbray, Amelia Opie (available as photocopy) The History of Mary Prince, Mary Prince COURSE PACKET [see list of contents at end of file] COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course will focus on feminist discourse in the poetry, drama, essays, and fiction by British women between the late seventeenth and early nineteenth century. Some issues we'll consider: the strengths and limitations of rationalism for a feminist political movement; the use of slavery as a metaphor for white women's oppression; the dialectics of "backlash"; and the persistence of patriarchy. Active class participation will enable us to counteract the more negative aspects of a "survey" course (i.e., the illusion of inclusiveness; the imposition of arbitrary labels, etc.). READING: Assignments from The "Other" Eighteenth Century (OEC) will be fairly short. However, when we read novels, assignments will be 300+ pages a week--you may want to read ahead over the weekends to avoid the mid-week "crunch." Course packet selections will supplement and help you contextualize the primary source readings for the course. WRITING: Assignments will include regular "prep" papers (1-2 paragraph handwritten or typed submissions--CR/NE grades), a 3-5 page journal-style report on the group project; and a 15-20 page research paper. By mid-semester, you will submit a proposal for the research paper along with a preliminary bibliography of at least 10 sources. In order to "historicize" your topic, a minimum of 4 sources must come from the seventeenth or eighteenth century. (I will distribute further information on the research paper and a style sheet by the end of the second week of class.) I encourage you to use your "prep" papers and group projects as seed beds for your research paper. DISCUSSIONS: Each member of the class will sign up to co-facilitate a discussion session. Working in groups of 2-3, you will come up with a strategy for stimulating discussion and a list of at least 5 questions which you will photocopy for the class. Questions should be left in an envelope outside my office by noon on the day before your discussion session for students to pick up so that they may begin to consider possible responses. When possible, discussion facilitators will have access to class "prep" papers and should take group interests into account when formulating their strategy. Some suggestions for discussion strategies: --photocopy excerpts from an outside source that might enable the group to focus on a particular aspect of the text(s) (e.g. theory, criticism, a contemporary review essay, an "artefact" from popular culture). --make some connection to earlier or later trends in feminism; i.e. situate your discussion within one particular historical moment in relation to another. --read, recite, or informally perform a section of a text in an interpretive manner. You may wish to choose a section in which multiple interpretations are possible and offer several perspectives (or deconstructions). --divide the class in half or in small groups to discuss particular questions or passages; set specific goals for each group and plan an activity for reuniting the class into one group at the end of the period. Discussion facilitators should meet at least once outside of class to collaborate on strategies. I will be happy to meet with groups to discuss options. GROUP PROJECTS: You will sign up to participate in one group project during the semester. Groups will consist of no more than 7 students and will present their material to the class on designated days. Types of groups: 1. Performance groups (3): Two groups will perform a scene from one of the plays we will be reading and will offer some background on the state of the theater during the period in which their play was performed. One group will "perform" excerpts from poetry not included on the reading list; the group may choose to focus on a "theme," such as working class women's poetry, female friendship poetry (or love poetry between women), or misogynist poetry by men with responses by women writers. 2. Research groups (3): These groups will work together on the following assigned topics: 1. Eighteenth-Century Conduct Literature for Women; 2. The "Backlash" of the Later 18th Century; 3. Abolitionist Discourse and Feminism Each group will receive a handout from me with advice and instructions, but should feel free to improvise according to group consensus. At least 10 minutes of the period should be reserved for discussion. Groups might consider incorporating slides, video, or music into their presentations and may assign readings for the class as long as they announce assignments at least two class meetings in advance of their presentation (I will be happy to have material photocopied or to place it on reserve). Group members will keep a journal on their project which I will then weigh along with the group effort in determining a grade for the project. Attendance: Because meaningful group discussions require the full participation of the group, I will keep an attendance record. Excessive absences will hurt your final grade. If you know in advance that you will have to miss class or if you are ill, please contact me or leave a message at the English Department. Grades: "Prep" papers 20% Group projects 15% Discussion and class participation 20% Research proposal/bibliography 10% 15-20 page research paper 35% To pass the course, you must complete all written work and oral presentations. Schedule of Assignments (Days marked by asterisks will feature discussion facilitators) Monday, Feb. 7: Introduction EARLY POLEMICS Wednesday, Feb. 9: "A Tradition of Our Own," Margaret Ezell and "The Enlightenment and the Nature of Women," Jane Rendall [course packet]; OEC, selections from Margaret Fell and Judith Drake PREP PAPER Friday, Feb. 11: Mary Astell in OEC and course packet selection "The Beginnings of Eighteenth-Century Feminism," Alice Browne and "The Liberating Effects of Rationalism," Katharine Rogers [course packet] POETIC JUSTICE Monday, Feb. 14: "Notions of Women," Alice Browne [course packet] OEC, selections from Philips, Finch, Egerton, and Chudleigh PREP PAPER Tueseday, Feb. 15: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS * Wednesday, Feb. 17: OEC, selections from the poetry of Behn (52-62) plus additional poetry (handout); "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Utopian Longings in Behn's Lyric Poetry," Judith Kegan Gardiner Friday, Feb. 18: LIBRARY VISIT--MEET IN MUDD (exact location TBA) 11:00--optional visit to rare book room to see a first edition of Behn's Poems upon Several Occasions: with a Voyage to the Island of Love (1684) STAGING RESISTANCE Monday, Feb. 21: OEC, Behn, The Lucky Chance, 62-137; "Who Was that Masked Woman? The Prostitute and the Playwright in the Comedies of Aphra Behn," Catherine Gallagher [course packet] PREP PAPER Tuesday, Feb. 22: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, Feb. 23: OEC, The Lucky Chance (cont.) Friday, Feb. 25: GROUP PERFORMANCE MID-CENTURY FEMINISM Monday, Feb. 28: Woman Not Inferior to Man, "Sophia" [course packet] PREP PAPER Tuesday, March 1: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, March 2: OEC selections from Tollet, Rowe, Carter, Talbot, and verse selections from Montagu plus poetry "debates" between Montagu and Swift/Pope (handout) Friday, March 4: GROUP POETRY PERFORMANCE Monday, March 7: The Female Quixote, 1-208 Introduction by Margaret Doody PREP PAPER Tuesday, March 8: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, March 9: The Female Quixote, 209-307 Thursday, March 10: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Friday, March 11: The Female Quixote, 308-383 A LATER STAGE Monday, March 14: OEC, Cowley, The Belle's Stratagem, 284-341; "The Masquerade and Eighteenth-century England," Terry Castle PREP PAPER Tuesday, March 15: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, March 16: The Belle's Stratagem (cont.) Friday, March 18: GROUP PERFORMANCE SPRING BREAK THE POLITICS OF "CONDUCT" Monday, March 28: "'Nice Girl:' Social Control of Women through a Value Construct," Greer Litton Fox and "The Cult of Womanhood in Eighteenth-Century Thought," Marlene Legates, [course packet]; OEC, selection from Pennington Wednesday, March 30: GROUP PRESENTATION--18TH-CENTURY CONDUCT LITERATURE FOR WOMEN Thursday, March 31: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Friday, Feb. 1: OEC, selections from Collier and Edgeworth RESEARCH PROPOSAL/PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE Monday, April 4: A Simple Story, 1-165 PREP PAPER Tuesday, April 5: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, April 6: A Simple Story, 165-256 Thursday, April 7: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Friday, April 8: A Simple Story, 256-338; "Elizabeth Inchbald's Not So Simple Story," Catherine Craft-Fairchild [course packet] REVOLUTIONARY FEMINISM Monday, April 11: "Mary Wollstonecraft: The Feminist Embrace and Criticism of Liberalism," Zillah R. Eisentstein [course packet]; A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1-77 [chapters 1-4] PREP PAPER Tuesday, April 12: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, April 13: Vindication, 77-131 [chapters 5-7] Friday, April 15: NO CLASS TODAY PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Monday, April 18: Vindication, 131-194 [chapters 8-13] PREP PAPER Tuesday, April 19: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, April 20:"The Wollstonecraft Debate" and selection from R. M. Janes ("Criticism" section) in Norton Critical Edition of Vindication (221-276 and 297-307) [on reserve] "The Sultan and the Slave: Feminist Orientalism and the Structure of Jane Eyre," Joyce Zonona [course packet] BACKLASH Friday, April 22: GROUP PRESENTATION--LATE 18TH-CENTURY FEMINISM AND ITS DISCONTENTS Monday, April 25: The Wrongs of Woman: or Maria 69-139 PREP PAPER Tuesday, April 26: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, April 27: WW, 140-204 Friday, April 29: GROUP PRESENTATION--ABOLITIONIST DISCOURSE AND FEMINISM Monday, May 2: Adeline Mowbray 1-105 PREP PAPER Tuesday, May 3: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, May 4: AM 106-200 Thursday, May 5: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Friday, May 6: AM 200-270 Monday, May 9: History of Mary Prince, vii-85 (read Preface and Introduction) PREP PAPER Tuesday, May 10: PICK UP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *Wednesday, May 11: MP 85-124 (supplement and appendices) Friday, May 13: Excerpts from Susan Faludi's Backlash, "Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppression," and "Feminist Revolution: Development Through Struggle," bell hooks COURSE EVALUATIONS Tuesday, May 17: 15-20 PAGE RESEARCH PAPER DUE English 353: Enlightenment Feminist Literature Audrey Bilger Course Packet Contents 1. "A Tradition of Our Own: Writing Women's Literary History in the Twentieth Century," Margaret Ezell 2. "The Enlightenment and the Nature of Women," Jane Rendall 3. "The Beginnings of Eighteenth-Century Feminism," Alice Browne 4. "The Liberating Effect of Rationalism," Katharine Rogers 5. Excerpt from A Serious Proposal to the Ladies, Mary Astell 6. "Notions of Woman," Alice Browne 7. "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Utopian Longings in Behn's Lyric Poetry," Judith Kegan Gardiner 8. "Who Was That Masked Woman?: The Prostitute and the Playwright in the Comedies of Aphra Behn," Catherine Gallagher 9. Woman Not Inferior to Man, "Sophia" 10. "The Masquerade and Eighteenth-Century England," Terry Castle 11. "'Nice Girl': Social Constructions of Women through a Value Construct," Greer Litton Fox 12. "The Cult of Womanhood in Eighteenth-Century Thought," Marlene LeGates 13. "Elizabeth Inchbald's Not So Simple Story," Catherine Craft-Fairchild 14. "Mary Wollstonecraft: The Feminist Embrace and Criticism of Liberalism," Zillah R. Eisenstein 15. "The Sultan and the Slave: Feminist Orientalism and the Structure of Jane Eyre," Joyce Zonona 16. Selections from Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women, Susan Faludi 17. "Feminism: A Movement to End Sexist Oppression" and "Feminist Revolution: Development Through Struggle," bell hooks