University of Virginia Library

SCHOOL OF ENGLISH.

Prof. Garnett.

Instruction in this School is given in three classes:

I. The Class of Early English.—In this class the historical and
philological study of the language is pursued, the class beginning with
its oldest forms, and tracing the language, by the study of specimens
through its different periods to the formation of modern English. After
a thorough study of the grammar, selected pieces of Old and Middle
English prose and poetry are read, both in class and privately, with a
view to acquiring a philological knowledge of the origin and structure
of English. Lectures on the position of English in the Indo-European
family of languages, and on the history of the language, are also given,

Text-books.—Sweet's Anglo-Saxon Reader; Morris and Skeat's Specimens of Early English,
Parts I and II, or Sweet's First and Second Middle English Primers. For reference.—
Cook's Sievers's Grammar of Old English; Kington-Oliphant's Old and Middle English.

II. The Class of Modern English.—In this class the study of the
later language, i. e., from Chaucer, is pursued, and Shakspere is made a
special subject of study. The critical study of a play of Shakspere,
with private reading of about one-third of the plays, is followed by similar
study of selected works of later authors. Lectures on the history
of the Elizabethan drama and on the history of the later language
are given.

Text-books.—For 1888-'89, Romeo and Juliet (Rolfe's edition); Dowden's Shakspere
Primer; Abbott's Shaksperian Grammar; Hale's Longer English Poems, Lounsbury's History
of the English Language. For reference.—The Globe Shakspere and Fleay's Shakspere
Manual; Keltie's British Dramatists.

III. The Class of Rhetoric and English Literature.—In this
class the principles of Composition and Rhetoric are first studied, and
then the study of the history of English Literature is taken up. Along
with study of the text-books, selected works of authors are assigned

for private reading. Essays are required at regular intervals. Lectures
on each subject are given in connection with the text-books.

Text-books.—Genung's Practical Elements of Rhetoric; Nicoll's Landmarks of English
Literature; Ward's English Poets. For reference.—Minto's Manual of English Prose Literature;
Saintsbury's Specimens of English Prose Style.

Each class meets twice a week, and may be attended separately; but
graduation in I. and III., or II. and III., will be necessary for a diploma
in the School.

N. B. Books marked "For reference" are used at the option of the
student.