English 3210 is a survey course designed to introduce you to some major texts and authors of the historical British literary tradition, from 1789 to now. This means we’ll explore Romantic, Victorian, Modernist, and Contemporary works from the British Isles, while also considering broader historical and cultural developments that influenced the literature of these periods. The major thematic focus of this course will be “canonicity”: we’ll perform close readings and engage in critical discussions to understand (and interrogate) what made literary works “good” or “valuable” between the late-18th to early-21st century.