ENGL 5134: Studies in Eighteenth-Century Literature Samuel Johnson Professor Radcliffe

Samuel Johnson dominated literary London like few writers before or since; rising from a humble provincial background and years spent in poverty, he slowly emerged as the "Grand Cham" at a particularly critical moment in literary history. Though a classical scholar himself, Johnson was influential in raising the prestige of English literature, a feat which he accomplished less through his original writings (important as they were) than through his Dictionary, Shakespeare edition, and Lives of the Poets. Johnson was equally at home in the hitherto distinct worlds of scholarship and commercial publishing; by bringing them together in these three vast projects he brought literary studies into the modern era. In his lifetime and since, Johnson was respected as a wise and good man, a stylish writer and an oracle of wisdom. He was also a deeply troubled man, difficult to live with, depressed, frightened, and given to outbursts of pessimism and aggression. When Boswell, Johnson's friend and biographer, brought to light this darker, private side of his character, the paradoxical effect was to raise Johnson's stature even more.

In this seminar we will be equally concerned with Johnson's writings, his life, and his times; to the extent possible we will use each to illuminate the others. Johnson was a many-sided figure who had important things to say on many topics that continue to be of interest today. Members of the seminar are encouraged to bring their own interests to the table, developing a particular thread as we read through the major writings that can then be developed into a seminar. Over the centuries more has been written about Johnson than just about in figure in English literature save Shakespeare, so there will be no lack of things to write and talk about. Rather than look at Johnson through a particular critical lens, I hope to develop a many-sided conversation based on our own experiences of life and literature. To help get this going, in addition to Johnson's works we will read Walter Jackson Bate's critical biography (highly regarded as a literary work in its own right) and critical essays by several Johnson scholars.

Texts are available at the bookstore or are on reserve. Evaluation will be based on class participation (25%) periodic short essays (25%) and a research paper of 15-25 pp. (50%).

August 23	Introduction
August 25	London: A Poem in Imitation of Juvenal's Third Satire (1738).
August 29	Bate, Samuel Johnson: Part I.
September 1	Life of Richard Savage (1744).
September 6	Life of Richard Savage (1744).
September 8	Bate: Part II.
September 13	Bate: Part III.
September 15	J. C. D. Clark, Samuel Johnson: Chapter 1.
September 20	Vanity of Human Wishes: The Tenth Satire of Juvenal imitated (1749).
September 22	Kernan, Johnson and the Impact of Print, Chapter 2.
September 27	Paul J. Korshin in CCSJ; The Rambler (selections): Nos 4-47 (1750).
September 29	The Rambler (selections): Nos 60-145 (1750-51).
October 4	Bate: Part IV.
October 6	The Rambler (selections): Nos 148-191 (1751-52).
October 11	Catherine N. Park, Robert Folkenflik, Michael Suarez in CCSJ
October 13	An Account of the Harleian Miscellany, etc. (1743).
October 18	Robert Demaria, Jr. in CCSJ; A Dictionary of the English Language (1755).
October 20	Adventurer selections (1753).
October 25	Idler: Nos 60-61, 81, 84, 103 (1759).
October 27	Preface to Shakespeare (1765)
November 1	The History of Rasselas (1759).
November 3	The History of Rasselas (1759).
November 8	Clement Hawes in CCSJ; The History of Rasselas (1759).
November 10	Greg Clingham in CCSJ; Lives of the Poets: Cowley (1779).
November 15	Lives of the Poets: Milton, Addison (1779-81).
November 17	Lives of the Poets: Pope, Collins, Gray (1781).
November 22	Thanksgiving Break
November 29	Journey to the Western Islands
December 1	Journey to the Western Islands
December 6	Thomas Carlyle on Johnson; "On the Death of Dr. Robert Levet" (1783).