Why did the genre of satire flourish to such an extent in Britain in the eighteenth century, and again experience a resurgence in the early twentieth century? By reading satire from both periods in conjunction, including the works of Dryden, Swift, Pope, Rochester, Congreve, Eliot, Lewis, Huxley, Orwell and Waugh, the seminar will explore the strategies of satire as a mode of cultural criticism. The issue of whether satire is an inherently conservative or progressive genre will be raised, along with questions of literary form and its deformation. Students will read some literary criticism in conjunction with the primary texts. Format: discussion /seminar. Requirements: class participation, three papers of varying length along with e-mail responses. Prerequisites: a 100 level English course, except 150. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected:19). Preference to first and second-year students and majors who have yet to take a Gateway course. This course is writing intensive. (1700-1900 or Post-1900)

Hour: NOHRENBERG