Topics in 19th Century British Literature
Erin O'Connor profile
W 5:30-8:10
This course will examine the historical, cultural and aesthetic significance of the 19th century novel by focusing on a peculiar trend in contemporary literature: the penchant of 20th century authors for rewriting nineteenth-century fiction. Why have so many present-day authors found it essential to engage with the politics and poetics of 19th century fiction? What do rewritings of 19th century novels allow authors to say--about now, about then, about the relationship between now and then? How do these literary "doubletakes" transform, distort, illuminate, or even mistake the works they are adapting? In order to address these questions, we will necessarily have a dual focus in this course, studying what these variously re-written works meant during the 19th century in order to better address their significance to late 20th century ideas about authorship and culture. Our reading will be centered on the following pairs: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones' Diary (1998); Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (1847) and Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea (1966); Charles Dickens' Great Expectations (1860) and Peter Carey's Jack Maggs (1998); George Eliot's Adam Bede (1858) and Cynthia Ozick's Puttermesser Papers (1997). We will conclude our study with A.S. Byatt's award-winning novel about the pleasures and dangers of studying 19th century literature, Possession (1990). Formal assignments will include one short paper (5-7 pages), one longer paper (18-20 pages), and an in-class presentation.
updated 2006-10-10
