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SCHOOL OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Professor Garnett.
B. A. COURSE.
Modern English.—In this class the study of the English drama and of
the descriptive history of the language is pursued; Shakspere is made a
special subject of study. The critical study of one or two plays of Shakspere,
with private reading of about one-fourth of the plays, is followed by
similar study of selected works of other dramatic authors. Lectures on the
history of the Elizabethan drama are given in connection with the study of
Shakspere. These treat the early dramatic forms prevalent in England—
i. e., the Mysteries, Moralities and Interludes; the rise of regular comedy
and tragedy as seen in Ralph Royster Doyster and Gorboduc; the Pre-Shaksperian
dramatists, Lyle, Peele, Greene and Marlowe; the Shaksperian
period, including Shakspere, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher, and
Webster; and the Post-Shaksperian dramatists to the closing of the theatres
in 1642. The study of the English drama occupies the first half-session;
that of the history of English, treated from an elementary point of view,
the second half-session. The course closes with the reading of some work,
usually of Chaucer, in practical illustration of the formation of English.
The aim is to give such a knowledge of the history of the language as every
educated man should possess. Three lectures a week.
Text-Books.—For 1895-'96, Twelfth Night (Rolfe's edition); Tancock's or Ward's
Old English Drama; Dowden's Shakspere Primer; Abbott's Shaksperian Grammar;
Champneys's History of English; Skeat's Primer of English Etymology; Chaucer's
Prologue and Knight's Tale; Pollard's Chaucer Primer. For Reference.—The Globe
Shakspere; Fleay's Life of Shakspere; Fleay's History of the Stage, 1559-1642; Halliwell-Phillips's
Life of Shakspere; Keltie's British Dramatists; Emerson's History of the
English Language; Skeat's Student's Chaucer.
M. A. COURSE.
Old and Middle 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
grammar, selected pieces of Old and Middle English prose and poetry are
read, 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. These treat in outline the other branches of the Indo-European family
of languages, and in detail the Teutonic branch. Special stress is laid
upon the development of the language during the Old and Middle English
periods, and the infusion of the Romance elements which so greatly affected
its character. The study of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) occupies the first
half-session; that of Middle English, the second half-session. In addition
to what is read in class, assigned parallel reading of Old and Middle English
works is also required. It is well for the student to have studied the
history of English as given in the class of Modern English, or some similar
course, before entering upon the study of the course in Old and Middle English,
although this is not essential, as the two may be studied together. Some
antecedent philological study is, however, necessary. The aim is to lay the
foundation for more advanced studies in English Philology. Three lectures
a week.
Text-Books.—Bright's Anglo-Saxon Reader; Morris and Skeat's Specimens of Early
English, Parts I. and II.; Cook's Sievers's Grammar of Old English; Earle's Anglo-Saxon
Literature. For Reference.—Ten Brink's Early English Literature; Brooke's
History of Early English Literature; Skeat's Principles of English Etymology, First
and Second Series; Henry's Comparative Grammar of English and German.
PH. D. COURSE.
This course is arranged to suit the needs of those students who desire to
pursue further their work in English Philology. It will comprise the further
study of Old and Middle English works, especially of Old English poetry,
and the study of Gothic and the comparative grammar of the Teutonic languages.
In addition to such examinations as may seem advisable, a dissertation
will be required, giving evidence of independent private study of
some subject cognate with the course pursued. The selection of the course
and subject is left to the student himself under the guidance of the Professor.
The completion of the M. A. Course in Old and Middle English is absolutely
necessary to the prosecution of the Ph. D. Course, and a knowledge of German
is desirable.
The course this session has included the reading of the Exodus and Daniel,
Andreas and Elene, Judith, and Beowulf; and the study of Wright's
Gothic Language Primer, with additional readings in Skeat's Gothic Gospel
of St. Mark and Braune's Gothic Grammar.
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