2012-2013 Academic Catalog

Aug 31, 2025

2012-2013 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

ENG 263 - National Trauma: Studies in British Romanticism

Type of Course: Seminar

The period from the end of the eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century was one of great expansion and empire building for England, but at what cost? Focusing on Britain’s traumatic past, this course examines the formation of British national identity through its troubling origins in slavery, colonial rule, and women’s lesser status. Through slave narratives, memoir, confessional poetry and the political novel, Romantic writers attempted to construct a national history. In mapping out these national tales, we will explore the ways in which race, gender and imperialism impacted attitudes towards Englishness during the period. To understand the cultural contest of British nationalism, the course will incorporate post-colonial and trauma theory, as well as cultural and historical documents. For undergraduate English majors this course satisfies the Period (C-2) requirement.