ENG 416 – Eighteenth-Century Literature

Fall 2002

Dr. Berglund

Paper No. 1, due Friday, 13 September by 3 p.m. (in my mailbox in KH 326). The essay must be at least 750 and no more than 1,000 words (approximately 3-4 pages). Be sure to follow the format guidelines posted to my website.

In this paper, analyze either Swift's poem "A Description of the Morning," given below, or a short, focused section (no more than two pages) from A Journal of the Plague Year. You may not analyze material that we discussed at length in class; if you're not sure whether a topic is eligible, ask me. Your essay should offer a close reading of the poem or Journal episode, commenting on the author's depiction of the urban and/or commercial experience. You may, though need not, refer to other works we've discussed. In grading this paper, I will judge 1) the persuasiveness and insight of your thesis; 2) your skill at close reading; 3) the clarity of your prose; 4) your adherence to rules of grammar and mechanics and to my format guidelines.

If you send me a draft via email, I will comment within 48 hours.

Jonathan Swift, "A Description of the Morning." April, 1709.

Now hardly here and there an hackney-coach

Appearing showed the ruddy morn's approach.

Now Betty from her master's bed had flown

And softly stole to discompose her own.

The slipshod 'prentice from his master's door

Had pared the dirt, and sprinkled round the floor.

Now Moll had whirl'd her mop with dexterous airs,

Prepared to scrub the entry and the stairs.

The youth with broomy stumps began to trace

The kennel-edge where wheels had worn the place. (10)

The small-coal man was heard with cadence deep

'Till drown'd in shriller tones of chimney-sweep.

Duns at his Lordship's gate began to meet,

And Brickdust Moll had scream'd through half the street.

The turnkey now his flock returning sees,

Duly let out a-nights to steal for fees.

The watchful bailiffs take their silent stands,

And school-boys lag with satchels in their hands. (18)

3. Betty: a typical name for a servant, as is Moll

6. pared: scraped

10. kennel-edge: gutter's edge. The youth is scavenging with an old broom.

13. Duns: creditors

14. Brickdust Moll: brickdust was used as an abrasive cleanser. Brickdust Moll, the small-coal man and the chimney sweep are all street vendors. This Moll is different from the servant Moll in line 7.

15-16: turnkey: jailor.

17: bailiffs: court officials empowered to execute arrest warrants, particularly for debt.