Navigating the Path to Expertise in English Literature
While one can become an adept or an expert in English literature, true mastery is an elusive goal. It requires a lifelong commitment to study, which begins with an academic foundation and continues through years of dedicated reading.
Understanding Your Syllabus and Starting Your Journey
Most academic courses in English literature come with a predefined syllabus, which acts as a roadmap for your studies. By closely following this syllabus, you can identify the key works and authors that you should focus on. However, reading for enjoyment and exploring a wide range of texts is equally important. This enriches your understanding and broadens your appreciation of the literature.
Approaching English Literature
To navigate the vast and rich landscape of English literature, it's essential to understand the major periods and the key figures within each. By organizing your reading around significant texts, you can build a comprehensive and deep understanding of the field.
Key Periods and Major Writers
English Literature from the 8th Century AD: This period covers works written in Latin and Old English, such as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. These works in translation are a great starting point.
Medieval Period (11th-15th Century): For this period, reading Beowulf in translation, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Pearl is essential. The Canterbury Tales should include the General Prologue and a selection in the original language.
Renaissance Period (16th Century): The works of Le Morte d'Arthur (original early modern English) are crucial. Once you move into the Renaissance, all works must be read in the original English.
Shakespeare: Studying a selection of Shakespeare's sonnets and plays is fundamental. A minimum selection includes A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Hamlet, Anthony and Cleopatra, The Tempest, and Henry V. Choose a text with detailed notes to aid your understanding.
Metaphysical Poets: John Donne's secular and religious poems offer insights into the complexities of the metaphysical style.
Early Modern English: The Bard's Successors - Edmund Spenser's Amoretti, including sonnet 75, Epithalamion, and the introductory letter to The Faerie Queene (Book 1) are essential. These works provide a window into the language and styles of the early 17th century.
John Milton: On The Morning Of Christ’s Nativity, “How Soon Hath Time,” and “On Shakespeare” are important to study, along with Paradise Lost. Excerpts from Areopagitica and Urne-Burial are also valuable for understanding the intellectual climate of his time.
Gradual Progress and Continuous Learning
While undergraduate studies can cover a significant portion of important works, a true master of English literature constantly reads and re-reads these texts. You can achieve a robust understanding of the field by carefully choosing your courses and supplementing your reading with personal interests. With each year of study, your comprehension and appreciation of the literature deepen.
Conclusion
Achieving expertise in English literature is a lifelong journey. By understanding the major periods, authors, and works in the syllabus, supplementing that with personal reading, and following a structured approach, you can build a deep and rich understanding of the subject. The path is challenging but rewarding, leading to a profound appreciation of the English literary tradition.