ENGL.SP23

Even when it was concerned with elevated topics like religion, politics, or community, early modern poetry was deeply embodied, working through abstract topics in frank and fleshy figures. This class will serve as an introduction to Renaissance lyric, focusing on the erotic dimensions of early modern poetics. Along the way, we'll discuss topics of interest within gender and sexuality studies, queer theory, and trans studies.

In this class, we will talk together about what it is we do when we read literature. What is literary criticism, and who counts as a critic? How do we make meaning out of texts? To begin answering these questions, we will read a variety of works in the genre of literary theory and criticism, consistently asking after the ways that race and gender shape the interpretive process. We will also spend a lot of time talking about how to write essays for English classes.