Eng-2005
History of British Culture
Brother Anthony (An Sonjae)
Spring Semester 2011   Wednesday, Friday 13:30








This course is designed to give students a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Britain and the development of the literature written in England.

The main text book (available in PDF by clicking on the title) should be printed out by each student and used in class :

History of English culture and literature,  by Brother Anthony

Grading: The two Reports and the two Exams (midterm and final) will have equal value.

If you have questions you may write emails to Brother Anthony

There are many Internet resources available. See my page of links.


Class topics and linked materials

Week 1  (March 2, 4)  Introduction: Prehistoric England, The Roman occupation  A map of Britain    An outline map of Britain

Week 2   (March 9, 11) Anglo-Saxon England

Week 3  (March 16, 18) The Middle Ages

Week 4  (March 23, 25) The Renaissance

Week 5   (March 30, April 1)  Elizabethan England,

Giotto Botticcelli  Michelangelo  Leonardo  Raphael  Titian   Holbein  

Week 6   (April 6, 8) Shakespeare

Week 7    (April 13, 15) Early 17th century

Week 8    (April 20, no class 22)  The Civil War

Week 9    Midterm exams

Week 10  (May 4, 6) The Restoration  & 18th century

Week 11 (May 11, 13) The Age of Reason  

Week 12  (May 18, 20)  Romanticism 

Week 13  (May 25, 27) The Victorian age

Week 14  (June 1, 3) 20th century 

Week 15  (June 8, 10)  Britain today

Week 16  Exams

Assignments : Each student will prepare two reports:

The first report will be on: The changing culture of the middle ages and renaissance, (social classes, literature, education, religion, architecture, philosophy, music . . .) using some pictures to illustrate if possible. The report is due by Monday May 2.

The second report will be about British life and culture  in 2011, compared with the life and culture of Korea today. Any two of the following topics are to be chosen, 1 from (a) and 1 from (b)  : (a) multicultural society, welfare provisions for the sick and the elderly, poltics, economics, employment  (b) popular music, sports, tourism, religion, landscapes, food. Nothing should be simply copied from the Internet, I want to read your own words. The second report will be due by June 20 at the latest. I expect 4 - 5 pages single spaced, excluding photos.