Literature is partly a product of the author’s mind and partly a product of its historical context. Understanding a text often includes an understanding of the literary context out of which it is produced. To this end, part of your coursework this semester will include contributing to a class-wide project to produce an informative, visually engaging timeline of the course material. This timeline will aid in understanding the course of literary history as we progress generally chronologically from the medieval, to the early modern periods. This will be a tool that you can certainly use to study for the semester’s assignments; however, the timeline will also allow you to continue to make connections, identify themes, and provide a context for your analysis of the literature.

Note: I think it will be useful to keep in mind that you are accountable to your classmates for the information you provide them.