LIT114 CM - Politics, Violence, and Early Modern Literature

What constitutes the ideal state? The ideal ruler? These questions lie at the center of the extraordinary flourishing of political thought in Europe between 1500 and 1700. At the same time, they deeply engaged the literary imagination of the period, as authors held the mirror up to their own societies, reconstructed societies of the past, and described societies of their own imaginative making. In this course we will explore the complex and compelling intersection between early modern politics and literature, paying particular attention to the uses and representations of violence. Our readings will include works by Shakespeare, Machiavelli, Elizabeth I, Montaigne, Milton, Hobbes, and others.

Offered: Occasionally

Credit: 1

Course Number: LIT 114 CM