ENGL 204

Fall 2026 Part of Term 1

Part of Term 1
Aug 24-Dec 9

Renaissance Literature and Culture

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Credit: 3 hours.

Readings in English and continental literary masterpieces with attention to significant cultural influences.

Same as CWL 255. Prerequisite: Completion of the Composition I requirement.

This course satisfies the General Education Criteria in Fall 2022 for:

Cultural Studies - Western

Humanities – Lit & Arts

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ENGL 204 class schedule data for fall 2026
	Status		CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
			33893	Lecture-Discussion	X	12:00PM -12:50PM	MWF	Lincoln Hall	Newcomb, L	Availability: CrossListOpen Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/24/26-12/09/26 Degree Notes: Humanities - Lit & Arts, and Cultural Studies - Western course. Section Info: FA26 ENGL 204 / CWL 255 - Renaissance Literature and Culture - Lori Newcomb - In this course we read an array of wonderful texts from various European languages, as they emerged from a cultural movement that has been called the “Renaissance.” This period of cultural reinvention, centered in Italy from the 13th through 16th centuries, sought to recover classical learning and artistry that had seemed lost with the fall of the Roman empire. What began as a movement of hope—can cultural riches be given a second life? – ultimately grounded a broad claim for European accomplishment in a great age of “Renaissance men.” This course engages amazing endeavor, while also questioning past idealizations of the Renaissance within broader views of global culture. We’ll read characteristic texts of the period originally written in Italian, French, and Spanish (all in English translation), then conclude by looking at the later and distinct works of the English Renaissance (16th-17th centuries). We’ll focus on readings and works of visual art that give complex pleasure, foreground the era’s ideals (and sometimes shortfalls), and offer insights for our current conditions. The course has four major graded assignments: two short papers and two tests (primarily made up of essay questions). The largest component of the course is your participation in class discussion, emulating the Renaissance ideal of a community of letters.