A survey of the major figures and movements of English literature through the first part of the seventeenth century: Beowulf, Chaucer, Marlowe, Spenser, Shakespeare, Donne, and others. The goal of the course is a critical and historical understanding of the English literary tradition, with practice in close reading and critical writing. Combination lecture and discussion. Requirements: frequent electronic journal postings; one or two 5- to 7-page papers; and a scheduled final exam. Students will do about 20 pages of writing and will be evaluated on writing, class participation, and the final exam. Prerequisite: a 100-level English course, except 150. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: about 20). Preference to sophomores and to first-year students who have placed out of 100-level courses with a 5 on the AP literature exam. (Pre-1700)