Romantic Dispossession: Subjectivity and Agency

This course examines the diverse arguments made by writers of the Romantic era concerning nonidentity, and focuses on the kinds of ethical, political, and aesthetic considerations that arise once identity is forfeited and dispossession is perceived as either a matter of self-discipline, the negative result of sympathy, a characteristic of literary culture, or a sign of melancholic loss. Enrollment limited to 15 graduate students. Undergraduate seniors will be admitted only with the permission of the instructor.