The Gothic Tradition

Fall 2010

Instructor: Prof. Andrew Warren

The Gothic novel is more than just the predecessor of Twilight; it's also an astute commentary upon a turbulent era in England's history. This course will examine the Gothic genre through the lens of that time's political preoccupations (the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars) and aesthetic theories (e.g., "the sublime"). Readings will include novels by Walpole, Beckford, Radcliffe and Lewis; Romantic poetry; satires by Austen and Peacock; and philosophical works by Burke and Schiller.