The English department has divided all time into five convenient periods, starting at the "beginning" and ending at the "present."

Concentrators in this field will find that distribution requirements within the department guide him through most of these periods. In addition, each period has been assigned a "type" of literature, which are, in chronological order, poetry, drama, fiction, criticism, and philosophy.

All concentrators must take English 1, the survey course, and they would be wise to get it out of the way as soon as possible. This course is undoubtedly the worst thing about concentrating in English, not because of the material, but because of its incredibly dull presentation.

Free to Roam

Otherwise, students may roam without check through time and type. the non-honors concentrator must take 12 half courses in English, of which four may be in related fields. The honors men have a heavier load.

Related courses include all in Comp Lit, as well as languages, English and American history, Philosophy, Humanities, and Fine Arts. There is plenty of latitude in choice.

For the honors candidate, Latin or Greek is a requirement. Some may have met the requirement already with their language work in secondary school. The rest will have to take courses at Harvard. Honors concentrators must write theses, which may be between 7,500 and 10,000 words.

Only one course in composition may be taken each year, and not more than three such advanced courses may be counted for concentration. The most popular of these creative courses is English C, which is conducted entirely in sections. The quality of instructors varies, but he main virtue of the course is in the constant practice in writing.

Kempton's course in the short story English L, is practical and commercial n its outlook; MacLeish's English S in advanced writing is more abstract.

The department offers a great many courses in the history of English and American literature. Most of these are fascinating even when they cover periods as short as 40 years. For instance, Sherburn's courses in 18th century English literature probe manners and morals as well, with generally delightful results.

Oral Essays

In the coming year Levin will give the popular Shakespeare course, 123, again, but his English drama from the origin to the closing of the theatres will be omitted. Levin's lectures are like oral essays; they are carefully constructed and seem rehearsed in delivery. Bush gives an authoritative but somewhat stodgy course in Milton, 131.

Baker returns to give English 160, "Drama Since Ibsen." He is always enjoyable to hear, but his lectures are more glib than profound. Baker treats drama primarily as literature, the traditional University aproach.

Loss to Choose From

In American literature there is less to choose from. This coming year only the first half of Jones' survey of recent American literature, survey, 170, will be given. This course is a good one, generally speaking. It covers a large amount of material, however, without going into any of it very deeply.