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| Semester | spring semester 2014 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers | Regula Hohl Trillini (r.hohl@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | John Milton campaigned for divorce, freedom of the press and the execution of King Charles I. In "Paradise Lost", he made daring additions to the biblical narrative (sex in Paradise and a glamorous melancholy Satan), but his God tolerates no discussions over Good and Evil, and his Eve is beautiful, blonde and guilty. So was he a hopeless misogynist or an admirable anti-Royalist, a creepy fundamentalist or a profound analyst of the human condition? We'll meet some opinions from a critical debate which has been going on for 350 years and eventually join in this conversation. What remains undisputed and supremely rewarding is the power of Milton's poetry, which made Virginia Woolf say: "Even Shakespeare after this would seem a little troubled, hot, personal & imperfect". |
| Learning objectives | Students exercise and expand the range of skills they have acquired in the first year. A more informed engagement with primary and critical texts will enable them to write their proseminar paper at the end of the spring term and to make an informed decision regarding their further course of studies. They will become familiar with John Milton's epic "Paradise Lost", with its literary, historical and religious contexts and with significant critical approaches. |
| Bibliography | John Milton, "Paradise Lost". Norton Critical Edition (ordered at 'Labyrinth' bookshop). Additional primary and critical texts will be made available on the ISIS course server. |
| Comments | "Paradise Lost" takes some getting used to, but it repays re-reading, so if you can, read ahead beyond Book II, even if you feel far from understanding everything! |
| Weblink | ISIS |
| Admission requirements | Old BA curriculum (2005): This course may only be taken after successfully completing the first semester of a "Refining Skills in Literature and Culture" proseminar. New BA curriculum (2013): It is strongly recommended that this course be taken after successfully completing the "Introduction I + II" literature proseminars. IMPORTANT: In preparation, read books 1 and 2 of "Paradise Lost" before the beginning of the semester. |
| Course application | Students are required to register on ISIS. Please note that places are limited and that once this particular course is fully booked you will have to sign up for one of the alternative options. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
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No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Modul Introduction to Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul Refining Skills in Literature and Culture (Bachelor's degree subject: English (Start of studies before 01.08.2013)) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Regular attendance and active participation including a group presentation |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Englische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft |