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520 Class 2

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TOPOGRAPHY AND MYTHOGRAPHY
CONDUIT CULTURE

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Learning Outcomes:
  • Use terms urbs, civitas, and res publica to describe which aspect(s) of London the readings represent.
  • Consider whether texts are communocentric or chorographic.
  • Gain a sense of the topography of the Thames Valley, the path of the river, and the contours of the two hills within the city.
  • Begin noticing (in Stow particularly) the tension between what was and what is.
  • Become aware of a few crucial myths about London: London as New Troy; London as a New Jerusalem (e.g., Eirenopolis). Note how the myths combine.
  • Notice how topography and mythography coincide.
  • Begin reflecting on the extent to which water determines both the shape of the city and the practice of everyday life for Londoners.
Primary readings:
  • Holinshed. Read section beginning Brute discouereth the commodities of this Iland from Book 2 (.doc file).
  • Stow. Section entitled Of Auncient and present Riuers, Brookes, Boorns, Wels, and Conduits of freshwater. Read the transcription of this section on British History Online.
  • Drayton, selections from Poly-Olbion (.pdf). 1613. The Works of Michael Drayton. Ed. J. William Hebel, Kathleen Tillotson, and Bernard H. Newdigate. Rev. ed. 5 vols. Oxford: Shakespeare Head Press, 1961. Vol. 4. Read the frontispiece, pp. 321-22, the map preceding Song xvii, and pp. 329-40.
Secondary reading: Ward. Access via library Journal Titles tab.
Resources: Interactive online exhibition of the topography of the Thames Valley, curated by the Museum of London.[A link to this site is no longer available]
Other References: Archer, Jenner, Scherb. I will draw upon these sources in my prolegomena and commentary. I list them here so that you have full bibliographic information should you wish to use the source in your assignments.
Sources Mentioned in Class: Helgerson.
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References