This course orients students to trends from the Enlightenment to Realism (1750-1900) and enables them to analyze features of these movements within their historical and cultural context. Examining trends reveals the evolution of concepts underlying shifting literary themes such as identity, notions of the self, education, reason vs. emotion, nature and the environment. This inquiry demonstrates how texts and writers engage in dialog with their time period and their artistic forebears. Prerequisite: GRMN 204 or higher or placement.