Lahore College for Women University

Department of English
BS English (Language & Literature)

Course Title: Introduction to Literature I (History of English Literature) Semester: I

Course Description:
Introduction to Literature is a course that aims at introducing to the students all the major literary
eras in the history of English Literature focusing mainly on early 16th century to late 19th century.
The course aims at enabling the students to divide literature into various time periods;
comprehending significant features of each time period and thus able to relate the historical
background with the writing style of writers. The course introduces major writers in the history
of English Literature.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, the students should be able to:
Understand major literary eras in the history of English Literature and their impact on the
development of English Literature
Have a comparative analysis of different literary eras with similar or dissimilar impetus
Get familiar with the major writers of Renaissance to Victorian era.
Course Contents:
Mid Term Final Term
Renaissance Restoration Period
Reformation Augustan Era
Elizabethan Era Romantic Era
Metaphysical poets Victorian Era
Cavalier poets

Book to be consulted:
1. A History of English Literature by Michael Alexander
Recommended Readings:
1. A Critical History of English Literature by David Daiches.
2. A Short History of English Literature by Ifor Evans
 Lahore College for Women University
Department of English
Weekly Teaching Schedule
BS English (Language & Literature)

Mid Term
Weeks Syllabus Plan
Week 1 ⦿ Introduction to the course and its outline.
⦿ An overview on different eras in the history of English
literature beginning with Renaissance (16th Century) to
Victorian era (19th Century).
⦿ Discussion on Political scenario 1500-1900.
Week 2 ⦿ Introduction to Renaissance (1500-1600).
⦿ Detailed discussion on characteristics, impact and
significant writers of Renaissance period.
● Humanism Movement
⦿ A comprehensive discussion on Reformation.
● Thomas More
● Thomas Wyatt
Week 3 ⦿ Introducing origin of Drama in English Literature.
● Mystery, Morality and Miracle plays.
⦿ Introduction to Elizabethan era (1558-1603).
● Characteristics of Elizabethan/ Shakespearean
Age.
● Development of poetry, drama and novel in
Elizabethan age.
Week 4 ⦿ An overview of Elizabethan dramatists:
● Philip Sidney
● Edmund Spenser
● Christopher Marlow
● Ben Jonson
⦿ Comparison and contrast in the writing style of above
dramatists.
Week 5 ⦿ Detailed discussion on Shakespeare.
● Tragedies of Shakespeare
● Comedies of Shakespeare
● Tragicomedies of Shakespeare.
Internal Assessment: Assignment or Presentation on the
works of Shakespeare.
Week 6 ⦿ Introduction to Metaphysical poetry.
● Salient features of metaphysical poetry
● Overview of metaphysical poets
● Detailed discussion on John Donne with special
focus on his writing style.
Activity: Students would be asked to select any poem of John
Donne and trace the conceits.
Week 7 ⦿ Introduction to Cavalier poets.
● Salient features of cavalier poets
⦿ Activity: Students would be asked to bring out the
contrasting factors of Metaphysical and Cavalier poets.
⦿ Introducing John Milton:
● His major works;
● Poetry writing style.
Week 8 Revision Week
Revision/recap of all aspects covered in the previous 7 weeks
through Quizzes/Tests/Presentations.
Mid Term Examination

FINAL TERM
Weeks Syllabus Plan
Week 9 ⦿ Introduction to Restoration Period (1660-1688)
● Development of theatre during Restoration
● Restoration Comedy
Week 10 ⦿ Introduction to Augustan Period (1700-1744)
● Jonathan Swift
● Alexander Pope
● Dr. Samuel Johnson
● Gothic Fiction and Non- Fiction
Week 11 ⦿ Introduction to Romantic Era (1790-1837)
● William Blake
● William Wordsworth
● Coleridge
Week 12 ⦿ Continuation of Romantic era
● Lord Byron
 ● P.B. Shelley
● John Keats
Week 13 ⦿ Introduction to Victorian Era (1837-1901)
● Major events of Victorian era and their impact
on writers
● Development of English prose writing in
Victorian era
Week 14 ⦿ Continuation of Victorian era
● Major Victorian Novelists:
✔ Jane Austen
✔ Charles Dickens
✔ Bronte’ sisters
● Victorian Theatre
✔ George Bernard Shaw
Week 15 ⦿ A recap of all the literary eras along with major writers
(poets, novelists, dramatists).
Week 16 ⦿ The students will be evaluated through presentations on
different literary eras in the history of English literature.
Final Term Examination