Hello, students! In this class, we will study British literature from the late 1700s through the early the 20th century. We will cover the Romantic, Victorian, and Modernist periods; however, we will place a heavy emphasis on the Romantic period as a foundation for what follows, and we will follow a Gothic thread throughout the class, which will include texts such as The Castle of Otranto, Frankenstein, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Social justice themes (e.g., slavery, the "woman question," social class, and imperialism) pervade these texts, as do debates about literary aesthetics.

The texts are both enjoyable and thought provoking, and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.

This course will meet fully in-person, Tu/Th, 10:00-11:20am.

Instructor:

Dr. Sally Demarest

Email: 

sarah_demarest@cuesta.edu

Course Start and End Dates: 

January 20, 2026-May 22, 2026

Required Texts (can be purchased through the Cuesta BookstoreLinks to an external site.):

• Frankenstein: The 1818 Text, Penguin Classics, ISBN: 978-0143131847
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Oxford Classics edition, ISBN: 978-0199536221
• Other readings provided through handouts (or Canvas) by the instructor
• Regular access to the internet, email, and Canvas

Catalog Description:

Provides an introduction to the study of literature with an emphasis in both literary composition and critical thinking. This course develops critical thinking and writing skills through the close study of major genres of literature: poetry, fiction, and drama. Students receive instruction in analytical and argumentative writing by studying literature and criticism and by identifying sound and fallacious methods of reasoning in assessments of literature.

Canvas: Cuesta's Learning Management System 

This course relies on a Web-based Learning Management System called Canvas as a method to maintain and disseminate information, including course materials and grades. You can find a link to Cuesta's Canvas portal on the Cuesta College website, and you can login using your Cuesta username and password. If you have questions, please feel free to contact your instructor, look up YouTube videos on how Canvas works, or contact our support desk when needing help: support@my.cuesta.edu. If you send an email to the support desk, please describe the problem you are experiencing and include your name, class, section number (CRN), and instructor's name.

Waitlist:

If you are on the waitlist for the course, be sure to check your email regularly (it's best to check twice a day). If a spot becomes available, you will receive an automated message from Cuesta, and you will have just 24 hours to add the class, or you will lose the spot and be dropped from the waitlist. If you are still on the waitlist when the class starts, please email me on the first day of class to check on your status and the likelihood that you’ll be able to add.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course the students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of selected major authors, texts, and genres of the Romantic, Victorian, and Modern periods of literature.
2. Analyze the relationship between texts and their historical, philosophical, social, political, religious, and aesthetic contexts.
3. Write clear and coherent interpretive arguments about British literature that are supported by textual and contextual evidence.
4. Demonstrate comprehension of texts and contexts through productive academic discussion about works from the Romantic, Victorian, and Modern periods of British literature.

Accommodations: 

If you have a disability and might need accommodations in this class, such as extended time on exams or other resources, please work with Disabled Students Programs and Services and the instructor as soon as possible so that you can receive appropriate accommodations in a timely manner.

DSPS (Disabled Student Programs & Services)Links to an external site. or 805-546-3148.  

PLEASE REVIEW THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RESOURCES BELOW

Canvas Browser requirements/minimum computer specifications Links to an external site.

Academic Policies (add, drop, waitlist, academic honesty, etc.) Links to an external site.

Distance Education Support Links to an external site.