ENGL 3543

OUTSIDE READING: For an extra grade (capable of raising the final course grade several percentage points, depending on your other grades) you are encouraged to read an approved work or group of related works that is not covered in class and that you have not previously read. Your grade will be based on a 10- to 15-minute oral exam, which you must take no later than Tues., Nov. 30. The earlier in the semester you complete your outside reading, the more pages and books you read (you may read more than one book), and, of course, the better you demonstrate your understanding of the book, the higher your grade is likely to be. Outside reading grades may exceed 100%. Outside reading is required for an A in the course.

If you decide to do outside reading, choose one of the following works or some other work(s) approved by me. In general, you are expected to read at least 200 pages beyond what was assigned for class (except for some very difficult works). Many of the works below are short enough to be read in their entirety. Please show me your edition before you begin reading so we can agree on the number of pages you will expected to read in that edition of the book. The most highly recommended works are marked with two asterisks. Recommended works are marked with one asterisk.

*Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (in Middle English or modern translation, esp. Neville Coghill’s translation)

*Malory, Morte Darthur (at least 200 pages, not including the pages assigned for class)

Spenser, The Faerie Queene (at least Book I or Book III, plus some criticism to enhance your understanding)

Milton, Paradise Lost

**Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, parts 1 and 2

**Swift, Gulliver’s Travels, parts 1-4

Defoe, Robinson Crusoe or Moll Flanders

Richardson, Pamela

Fielding, Tom Jones or Joseph Andrews

Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson (at least 200 pages, not including the pages assigned for class)