Metempsychosis is a field of study that takes as its objective a retracing of the steps of the past.  In this course, we will embark on a journey that departs from a literary port of call—the mead halls of 8th-century—and that, at the end of the semester, docks somewhere in the seamy underbelly of 18th-century England.  During the semester, we will battle monstrous mothers, be amazed by supernatural green knights, follow pilgrims toward Canterbury and hear their tales of fabliau, discover an anchoress’ mystical visions and a medieval housewife’s autobiography, spy on lovers, witness the dis-embowelment of a royal prince-turned-slave, burn London, dally in daily receipts, ponder the rape of a lock, witness a radical mastectomy (without anesthesia), and explore a few back streets and dark alleyways.  This course provides us with the opportunity to investigate various genres, literary traditions, and historical periods.  As readers, we will think of ourselves as literary critics as well as social, political, and economic historians.  While we will explore the cultural contexts in which works are written and that affect the development of literature, our primary concern will be to read literary selections closely and revel in them—to understand, analyze, and appreciate their richness and variety of form, language, and content.  To this end, we will pay careful attention to textual detail as well as to larger themes and patterns.  Because this is a writing intensive course, we will also study relevant terms and techniques of literary criticism to make our papers and discussions more precise.  Topics our discussions are likely to engage include the relationship of the present to the past, of the individual to society, and of the individual to institutions and systems (such as government, law, medicine, religion, education, or industry); problems of self-discovery and identity; questions of love, marriage, and morality; questions of gender, class, and race; and the role of the artist and of literature in investigating, articulating, and affecting all of these issues.  To facilitate lively discussions, our class will run very much like a seminar and reading group.