E 379S
35165
Renaissance Travel Narratives
Dr. Hannah Wojciehowski
Mezes 2.210 MW 3:30-5:00
Office: Parlin 227 ph. 1-8765
Office Hours: MW 12:30-2:00
Course Description:
Early modern travel narratives are fascinating historical documents.
They
offer a wide array of perspectives on colonialism; on national, ethnic,
religious, and cultural differences; and on the global economy that developed
during that era.
Together they help the contemporary reader understand how
the creative phenomenon called the Renaissance was partly the effect of a
global circulation and redistribution of material goods, knowledge and ideas.
Conflicting beliefs about the world and its diverse peoples also had a
profound impact on the evolution and transformation of European cultures, and
of many other cultures around the world, as the modern world-system came into
being.
In this senior seminar we will study a broad sampling of European travel
narratives written between the 15th and 17th centuries, as well as some nonEuropean narratives from the same era.
These travel narratives tell
remarkable stories, sometimes in highly crafted and rhetorically polished
ways.
Members of this course will be encouraged to study these intriguing
texts as literary works, as well as historical documents and/or ethnographies.
In this course, we will explore the impact of these early modern works on
literary history—specifically their relation to the Renaissance genre of
romance and to various modern genres, as well—both fictional and nonfictional.
Students in this course will write a 1-2 page response paper, a 4-5 page
interpretive essay and a 10-12 page research paper.
They will also be
encouraged to make use of the extensive collections of early modern books at
the HRC and Benson libraries.
Texts for this Course:
1. J. M. Cohen, ed., Christopher Columbus: The Four Voyages (Penguin, 1969).*
Reserves.
2. Luciano Formisano, ed., Vespucci: Letters from a New World (Marsilio,
1992). Course packet/EReserves/ Reserves.
3.
George Logan and Robert Adams, More: Utopia (Cambridge: 1989).*
Reserves.
4. Leo Africanus, A Geographical Historie of Africa (1600; EEBO [free to UT
students]).
5. Rolena Adorno and Patrick Charles Pautz, ed., The Narrative of Cabeza de
Vaca (Nebraska, 2003).*
Reserves.
6. Franklin Knight, ed., Bartolomé de las Casas: An Account, Much
Abbreviated, of the Destruction of the
Indies, with Related Texts (Hackett: 2003).* Reserves.
7. Janet Whatley, ed., Jean de Léry: History of a Voyage to the Land of
Brazil (California: 1992).*
Electronic (UTNetCat)/Reserves.
8. Arthur Coke Burnell, ed., The Voyage of John Huyghen van Linschoten to the
East Indies, Vol. I (Google
Books—access through UTNetCat [free to UT students]).
Reserves.
9.
Jack Beeching, ed., Hakluyt: Voyages and Discoveries. The Principal
Voyages, Navigations, Traffiques
and Discoveries of the English Nation (Penguin, 1972).* Reserves.
10.
Robert Langbaum, ed., William Shakespeare: The Tempest (Signet, 1964).*
11. Rebecca Catz, ed., The Travels of Mendes Pinto (Chicago, 1989).*
packet/E-Reserves/Reserves.
Course
12.
Nabil Matar, In the Lands of the Christians: Arabic Travel Writing in
the Seventeenth Century
(Routledge, 2003).* Course packet/E-Reserves/Reserves.
There are a large number of textbooks for this course. In order to keep the
costs down, I have made these texts available in several forms. Most can be
purchased at the University Co-op as indicated by a star (*) after the entry.
Three of our titles are available online to UT students (#s 4, 7 and 8), while
three others (#s 2, 11 and 12) will be made available as course packets and as
electronic reserves.
Schedule of Readings and Assignments:
Wednesday, January 20th
Modern World
Monday,
January 27th
Course Introduction: Mapping the Early
Columbus, First Voyage: 1492-1493
Introduction (Cohen), 11-24
Digest of Columbus’s Log-Book, 37-76
Letter Describing the Results of the First
Voyage, 115-127
Wednesday,
January 29th
Columbus, Third Voyage: 1498-1500
Narrative of the Third Voyage, 206-227
Letter to the Governess of Don Juan, 265-276
Fourth Voyage, 1502-1504
Letter to the Most Christian and Mighty King and
Queen
of Spain, 283-304
Monday,
February 1st
Wednesday, February 3rd
discovered on
Vespucci, Letters from a New World,
Introduction (Formisano), xix-xli
Mundus novus, 45-56
Vespucci, Letter concerning the islands newly
his four voyages, 57-97
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Saturday,
February 6th
Religions in
Seaborne Renaissance: Global Exchanges and
Early Modernity (2010 Harrington Symposium)
9:15 to 5:00; Prothro Theater, HRC
Monday,
February 8th
Wednesday,
February 10th
Utopia, Book II, 42-111
Monday,
Africa
February 15th
Leo Africanus, A Geographical Historie of
More, Utopia
Introduction (Logan and Adams), xi-xxviii
Utopia, Letters and Book I, 1-41
FIRST PAPER DUE: 1-2 pages (Symposium Response)
First Book, pp. 1-44, Image Numbers 69-111
Wednesday,
February 17th
Monday,
February 22nd
HRC Visit Denius Room, 2nd floor
Leo Africanus, A Geographical Historie of Africa
Third Book, pp. 122-171, Image Numbers 190-231
Cabeza de Vaca, Narrative
Introduction (Adorno and Pautz), 1-
33
Relación, 44-93
THEY SAY, I SAY—HOW TO WRITE ACADEMIC PAPERS
Wednesday,
February 24th
Thursday,
February 25th
Harvard University
Relación, 93-176
TILTS Lecture by Prof. James Simpson,
“Learn to Die: Late Medieval English Images
Before the
Evangelical Law,” 7:00 p.m., Mezes Auditorium,
1.306
Monday,
March 1st
Destruction
Las Casas, An Account, Much Abbreviated, of the
of the Indies; Introduction (Knight), viii-l
Destruction of the Indies, 1-47
SECOND PAPER DUE: 4-5 pages
Wednesday,
March 3rd
Destruction of the Indies, 47-88
Laws of Burgos, New Laws, Just Causes for War
Against the Indians,
True History, Cartas de
relación, 89-119
Monday,
March 8th
Léry, History of a Voyage to the Land of Brazil
Introduction (Whatley), xv-xxxviii; Dedication,
Preface, xli-lxii
Chapters I-XIV, 3-121
Wednesday,
March 10th
History of a Voyage to the Land of Brazil
Chapters XV- XXII, 122-219
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ALL WEEK
scheduled)
Individual Conferences—1/4 hour (to be
Monday,
March 15th
SPRING BREAK
Wednesday,
March 17th
SPRING BREAK
Monday,
March 22nd
Linschoten, Travels
Introduction (Coke Burnell), xxiii-xlii
Chapters I-XVI, 1-97
Wednesday,
March 24th
Linschoten, Travels
Chapters XXVIII-XXXVI, 175-256
PAPER PROSPECTUS DUE—1 page + 15 entry
March 25th
TILTS Lecture by Prof. Julia Reinhard Lupton, UC
bibliography
Thursday,
Irvine
“Paul and Shakespeare: From Religious Conflict
to Religious
Pluralism,”
7:00 p.m., Mezes Auditorium, 1.306
Monday,
March 29th
Library Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday,
March 31st
Hakluyt, Voyages
Selections t.b.a.
Monday,
April 5th
Hakluyt, Voyages
Selections t.b.a.
Wednesday,
April 7th
Shakespeare, The Tempest, Acts I-III
Monday,
April 12th
Shakespeare, The Tempest, Acts IV-V
RESEARCH PAPER, FIRST DRAFT DUE—7-8 pages
Wednesday,
April 14th
Mendes Pinto, Travels
Introduction, xv-xliv
Chapters 1-33, pp. 1-58
Monday,
April 19th
Mendes Pinto, Travels
Chapters 34-70, pp. 59-134
Wednesday,
April 21st
Mendes Pinto, Travels
Chapters 203-226, pp. 453-523
ALL WEEK
scheduled)
Monday,
Individual Conferences—1/2 hour (to be
April 26th
Matar, In the Lands of the Christians
Introduction, xiii-xlvii
France and Holland
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Ahmad Bin Qasim, Book of the Protector of
Religions, 5-44
Wednesday,
April 28th
Matar, In the Lands of the Christians
Europe and South America
Hanna Al-Mawsuli, Book of the Travels of the
Priest Ilyas, 45-111
RESEARCH PAPER, FINAL DRAFT DUE—10-12 pages
Thursday,
University
April 29th
TILTS Lecture by Prof. Nigel Smith, Princeton
“Why Heresy is a Good Thing: Milton and Remaking
of
Knowledge in the Early Modern Period,”
7:00 p.m., Mezes Auditorium, 1.306
Monday,
May 3rd
Reading T.B.A.
Wednesday, May 5th
Conclusions
Renaissance Travel and Modernity: Some
Course Evaluations
Requirements and Grading Policies:
Attendance is required for this course.
You may, however, have two
unexcused absences. Any absences thereafter will adversely affect your
final grade, and more than five absences will result in a failing grade
for the course. Exceptions may be made, however, for health problems,
family difficulties, etc.
Absences resulting from the observance of
religious holidays will also be respected.
Please come to class on
time, and don’t forget to turn off your cellphones.
Papers: Written assignments for this course will be the following: a
1-2-page response paper; a 4-5-page interpretive essay, a final paper
prospectus, and a 10-12 page research paper to be submitted in two
drafts.
Response Paper: On Saturday, February 6th, the 2010 Harrington
Symposium, entitled Seaborne
Renaissance: Global Exchanges and Religions in Early Modernity, will
take place in the HRC. This
event is very closely related to the subject of our course, and several
experts in the field of global
Renaissance Studies will be attending. For your first paper, I’d like
you to attend (at least) one panel
and to write a short response to what you hear.
For more information on this event, visit the following website:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/english/conferences/currentconferences/seaborne-renaissance.php
Interpretive Essay: Write a 5-page essay
interesting issue in the reading for that
to 1-3 passages in the text, and build a
two secondary sources that shed light on
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that opens up a problem or an
class period. Draw attention
reading from them.
Consult
this passage, and respond to
them in your essay. Additional instructions will be posted on the class
Blackboard. Due date: Monday, March 1st.
Paper Prospectus: Write up a 1-page description of your final research
project, including a 15- entry bibliography. This will be due on Weds.,
March 24th. You may write about a text that we will read later in the
semester, or about another topic of relevance to our work.
Start
thinking about this project now. You may also write on the same text
that you write about in your short paper.
Final Research Paper : Your final research paper for this course will
be due in two stages (three, counting the Prospectus). The first draft,
which should be 7-8 pages in length, not including the list of works
cited, will be due on . The final draft, which should be extended to
10-12 pages in length, will be due on I will consult with each of you
individually a few times over the semester about how your research is
progressing. Have fun with this project.
I do not accept
emergencies.
late
papers,
except
in
case
of
medical
or
family
Quizzes: There will be as many as 8 pop quizzes during the semester,
which will consist of short-answer questions over the days’ reading.
Additional Course Events:
First Annual Texas Institute for Literary and Textual Studies
“Literature and Religious Conflict in the English Renaissance”
Spring 2010 Lecture Series
Thursday,
February 25th
Harvard University
Lecture by Prof. James Simpson,
“Learn to Die: Late Medieval English
Images Before the
Thursday,
Irvine
March 25th
Evangelical Law,” 7:00 p.m., Mezes
Auditorium, 1.306
Lecture by Prof. Julia Reinhard Lupton, UC
“Paul and Shakespeare: From Religious
Conflict to Religious
Pluralism,”
Thursday,
University
April 29th
7:00 p.m., Mezes Auditorium,
1.306
Lecture by Prof. Nigel Smith, Princeton
“Why Heresy is a Good Thing: Milton and
Remaking of
Knowledge in the Early Modern Period,”
7:00 p.m., Mezes Auditorium, 1.306
For additional information on TILTS and the Spring
please visit these two websites:
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/insts/tilts-current/
Lecture
Series,
http://www.utexas.edu/cola/insts/tilts-current/courseslectures/ren-spring-lectures.php
Note: Students are encouraged to attend one or more of these lectures,
though attendance is not required.
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Grading for this course:
Grades will be assessed according to the following percentages:
First paper
10%
Second paper
Prospectus
10%
Third paper, 1st draft
Third paper, 2nd draft
Quizzes
Class participation
Grand total
February 8th
15%
March 1st
March 24th
15%
April 12th
25%
April 27th
15%
periodic
10%
cumulative
100%
The assignments for this course have been designed to create optimal breathing
room in the busy schedules of graduating seniors.
Assignments are
progressive, however, in that each one builds on the previous. Hence, it is
crucial to stay on track with the course readings and the written work.
This is an advanced undergraduate course that is meant to be a capstone
experience for the undergraduate English major at UT.
High-level critical
thinking, research, and writing are expected of the participants in this
seminar.
Note on the University’s new grading system:
Last fall, a plus- and minusgrading system was created at the University of Texas. This course will use
the new grading system, which includes plusses and minuses both for
assignments and for the final course grades.
The University’s Undergraduate Writing Center:
If you would like some
additional help in working on your essays, please feel free to visit the
University’s Undergraduate Writing Center. The UWC is located in FAC 211, 4716222: http://uwc.utexas.edu/home).
They describe their mission as follows:
“The Undergraduate Writing Center offers free, individualized, expert help
with writing for any UT undergraduate, by appointment or on a drop-in basis.
Any undergraduate enrolled in a course at UT can visit the UWC for assistance
with any writing project. They work with students from every department on
campus, for both academic and non-academic writing. Whether you are writing a
lab report, a resume, a term paper, a statement for an application, or your
own poetry, UWC consultants will be happy to work with you. Their services are
not just for writing with "problems." Getting feedback from an informed
audience is a normal part of a successful writing project. Consultants help
students develop strategies to improve their writing. The assistance they
provide is intended to foster independence. Each student determines how to use
the consultant's advice. The consultants are trained to help you work on your
writing in ways that preserve the integrity of your work.”
Special accommodations:
Students with disabilities may request appropriate
academic accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community
Engagement, Services for Students with Disabilities, 471-6259.
Office hours: My office is located in Parlin 227. I will hold office hours
on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30-2:00 and by appointment. Call me at 4718765 or e-mail me at [email protected].
Look forward to working with
you this semester!
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