MSSU ENG272 - Spring 2025 Dashboard
Description
British Literature II: Revolution, Reaction, Reform examines British literature from the late eighteenth century to the present, a period that witnessed the American and French Revolutions, slave revolts such as the Haitian Revolution, a “revolution in female manners,” the Industrial Revolution, the twentieth-century revolutionary wave in Europe, as well as World War I and World War II, and, of course, artistic revolutions. We will consider how the authors and literary works of this period might be reacting to change, advocating for reform, or participating in literary revolutions—whether revolution is understood in the sense of “revolving” or of “revolting,” going full circle to return to a previous (more perfect?) time or experiencing/effecting a great alteration or rupture.
Access the works for annotations assignments in COVE Studio here: ENG 272, Spring 2025
The digital edition of Frankenstein for annotations and the map project can be found here: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (1818)
Galleries, Timelines, and Maps
There is no content in this group.
Individual Entries
Highgate, located in North London, was a notable area during the late 1700s. Highgate was known for its fine houses and wealthy residents. It attracted noblemen and rich merchants who built grand homes with splendid views over London. The name "Highgate" comes from the tollgate that was established at the highest point of the neighborhood. Highgate in the late 1700s was a blend of historical charm, affluent residences, and evolving urban development, making it a significant part of London's landscape.
A P Baggs, Diane K Bolton, M A Hicks, R B Pugh. "Hornsey, including Highgate: Highgate". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 6, Friern Barnet, Finchley, Hornsey With Highgate. Ed. T F T Baker, C R Elrington (London, 1980), British History Online...
moreIn March 1853, Christina Rossetti and her mother, Frances, moved to Frome to start a school. This move was partly due to financial difficulties the family was facing at the time. The school they attempted to establish was not successful, and Christina found the experience challenging. She missed her family and life in London. Despite the difficulties, she found some solace in the natural beauty of the area, describing the local countryside as having "an abundance of green slopes and gentle declivities." By April 1854, the school had failed, and Christina and her mother returned to London. Shortly after their return, Christina's father, Gabriele Rossetti, passed away. Although her time in Frome was brief and not particularly happy, it is commemorated in the town. A plaque marks the house where she lived, and a poetry stone on the Millennium Green features an excerpt from her poem "What Good Shall My Life Do Me." Christina Rossetti's time in Frome was a small but significant chapter...
more
Christina Rossetti was born in London on December 5, 1830. She spent most of her life in the city, which provided a rich cultural and intellectual environment that influenced her work. Rossetti grew up in a highly artistic and intellectual household in London. London was the center of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of artists and writers that included her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Being in London provided Christina with access to publishers and literary circles that were essential for her career. Her major works, including Goblin Market and Other Poems (1862), were published in London. he city's diverse cultural scene and social issues influenced her poetry. Themes of spirituality, desire, and renunciation in her work reflect the complex...
more
Mary Shelley, along with Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, and others, spent the summer of 1816 at the Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva. The gloomy weather and the group's discussions about ghost stories inspired Mary to begin writing "Frankenstein." The summer of 1816 was known as the "Year Without a Summer" due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815, which led to severe weather conditions. The dark and stormy nights contributed to the eerie atmosphere that influenced Shelley's writing.
Geneva was an independent city-state until 1798, when it was annexed by France during the Napoleonic era. Geneva was a hub for Enlightenment thinkers. The city was home to notable figures such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was born there in 1712. The...
more