English 40--English literature from 1700 to 1798. A key course and lots of reading, but Chandler coordinates well.

English 51--Nineteenth Century Prose--much neglected period for this year at least. Rollins not inspiring.

English 80--Very technical on poetic criticism, Houghton good.

English 85--Chandler good on prose style, Hillyer wobbly on verse.

English 115--(formerly 15) Chaucer, a line-by-line course.

History and Literature

Combining two different subjects into one field can easily produce an inchoate mixture of material, but this department, guided by an interest in various approaches--social, intellectual, constitutional, etc., has made of them a study of civilization. Admission into the field is selective and restricted to fifty from each class. The special fields are Greece, Rome, Germany, France, England, America, Middle Ages, Renaissance, 17th century, 18th century, and 19th century. Divisional exams strike almost at once; thus, in the spring of his Sophomore year, a concentrator takes a three-hour Bible and Shakspere; in the fall as a Junior he takes two thirty-minute orals on either Ancient or Modern Authors and Historians, depending upon his special field. In May of his third year he must take, if he expects to be an honors candidate, the qualifying four-hour exam.

Preparation for this last milestone depends as much on the individual as on the tutor; it is a general exam covering the entire special field. Failure means that another and different exam must be taken as a Senior; success means that the concentrator will write a thesis and undergo an oral the next year on the century in which his thesis falls. Some members expressed the desire of seeing questions in the Junior divisional based more on a synthesis of history and literatures, with the marking adjusted to this basis.

Ever since its inception a "halo" has hug about the head of the department, glorifying its high aims and standards. Although it is no mistake to say that the field is one of the best, it is wrong to claim that it affords the broadest education and is thus the hardest. History alone or English alone can in some cases offer just as much. What a student gains is in the end up to himself and his tutor. Undoubtedly more time is spent with one's tutor, both as Sophomore and Junior, than in any other non-scientific field. The concentrator should be prepared to read much and read it thoroughly, as well as to study ideas in addition to facts. Survey courses like History 1, English 1, and French 6 (for the French field), are recommended for prospective concentrators to take as Freshmen.

Because of the comparative freedom of range within the field, each man seemed excited about his work, and with the help of the tutor this enthusiasm can be well developed and directed. The tutors in general are highly praised. In the English field Perkins is fine for the 18th century; Potter excellent in England, France, and Germany; Houghton good on poetry and the 17th century; Miller in America; Finley and Dow in the Classics. Durand knows his Aquinas and Bacon, but perhaps because he is over-worked, he seems indifferent to tutees. New tutors in the department will be D. J. Boorstin, England and America, whose special subject is the history of law; P. Dur., France; and H. Rice, French literature.

Opinions about the courses in the History and English departments are founded predominantly on the approach. If English 21 is unsatisfactory, as it seems to be, it is because the History and Literature man feels the weakness of too narrow and outmoded an interpretation and the absence of a social point of view. All courses which attempt to relate history and literature to the cultural and economic background of the time concerned are applauded. For this reason less philology and more sociology are demanded. See the History and English articles for courses not mentioned.

In the American field History 5 is ordinarily required for admittance into advanced American history courses. Unless a thorough course has been taken in school, it is necessary for those intending to enter the American field. The numerous hour exams make it elementary, but the reading is comprehensive and Buck's lectures good. With Professor Morison's personality History 60 is a delight for the American specialist; last year Nettels was very good. History 62a gives an economic approach to America. The most important course to the American concentrator is 63; although his humor is pleasant. Professor Schlesinger's lectures are on the whole dull. Most of the reading, especially the literary aspect, is antiquated and superficial; the marking of hour exams is felt to be unfair because too much material is wanted in a small amount of time. Complete reorganization, perhaps on a topical rather than chronological basis, seems urgent. In 65b Buck provides a thorough political background of the South.

English 7 is an excellent survey course for the specialist and for all those interested in American literature. Professor Jones will give a course on 20th century American Literature the second-half year, instead of one on American literature since 1870. Of the four conference group courses numbered 170, 170a is most recommended; although somewhat elementary, Murdock is good on the American novel to 1900. Miller on the American Drama in "d" should be excellent. Those in the field think a conference group on Southern literature is needed.

History 21b is a fine historical course for Europe, but not philosophical. In the field of English History and Literature, the History courses 19, 40, and 42 are all called essential, and are good courses. English 21 is also essential, but, as mentioned, the approach was criticized as being out of date. In English 30 the intellectual background is neatly summarized and the reading well selected. The first half year is on English literature from 1603 to the Restoration, the second half on the subsequent period to 1700. English 80, a criticism of poetry, relates to the intellectual background; Houghton is fine. Any of Spencer's courses are endorsed by concentrators.

History 50 is necessary for the German field, being its history in modern times. Members of this special field regret that four distinguished men have left the department in the last four years. Vietor is especially praised in the field, although his German is swift for one not proficient in the tongue. His course 15 on Goethe is one of the best. German 12 is a pure history and literature course, given in English on the Social Background of German Culture.