English 319CR - The Cunning Renaissance

In Renaissance English, "cunning" meant many more;things than it does today: guile, but also;wisdom, imagination, strategic sense,;inventiveness, skill. This very diverse set of;abilities is on display throughout early modern;literature, in which we meet all sorts of sages,;schemers, illusionists, and fools. What does it;mean to be smart? What forms of knowledge are;privileged above others? How is the idea of;intelligence culturally constructed, how;inflected by religion, gender, and class? Reading;widely in the period and drawing also on modern;thought, we will cover such topics as mental;disability, moral knowledge, social dexterity,;politicking, and artificial and animal;intelligence.

This course is open to Juniors and Seniors.