Perhaps the greatest literary movement to emerge from the 19th century was Romanticism — an emphasis of emotion, individualism, nature, and the sublime, and a reaction to rationalism and industrialization. In this course we will analyze works of 19th-century Romanticism, and we will seek to create our own definitions of what Romanticism is, what it seeks to accomplish, and how we can apply its lessons and philosophies to our own lives. In an hour, we will read excerpts containing some of the most beautiful language from the 19th century, and inspire you to engage deeper with not only Romantic texts, but with literature as a whole.

Writing can seem a daunting task — especially when regularly exposed to the greatest works of literature. However, even the greats have writing that they surely hope will never see the light of day, including the first drafts of those works you've come to love so much! Writing is a skill, not a pure natural talent. In this class, we will hone that skill, and leave as better and more inspired writers.

English and Humanities classes often offer us texts to read, operating under an assumption that we should read them. But why do we read, and what can we do to get the most out of what we are reading? In this class, we will look at excerpts from important literature and poetry and learn strategies that we may use to get the most out of what we are reading.