Johnson and Lockean empiricism

Authors

Timothy Erwin, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Editors

David R. Anderson and Gwin J. Kolb

Document Type

Chapter

Publication Date

1993

Publication Title

Approaches to the Teaching of Samuel Johnson

Publisher

Modern Language Association

Publisher Location

New York, NY

First page number:

35

Last page number:

41

Abstract

The works of Samuel Johnson--in particular, the famous Dictionary and the Lives of the Poets--have long held a central place in the English curriculum. This volume from the MLA derives its rationale from a different source, however: reports from experienced teachers of Johnson that students truly enjoy reading him. Johnson's writings can speak directly to students' concerns about identity and vocation, the role of authority, the relations between the sexes, and the challenge of trying to live according to one's own ideas. Approaches to Teaching the Works of Samuel Johnson shows the ways successful teachers have used these topics to enliven classroom discussion.

Like other books in the MLA's Approaches to Teaching World Literature series, this one is divided into two parts. The first part, "Materials," weighs the merits of various anthologies of Johnson's works and evaluates the relevant scholarly and critical resources. In the second part, "Approaches," sixteen contributors offer thematic teaching strategies for use in courses ranging from composition to women's studies; explore methods of teaching Johnson's works to nonmajors, particularly in survey courses of British literature or Western civilization; and focus on teaching specific works, both the familiar ones and those that are less well known, including Johnson's letters, the Soame Jenyns review, and A Journey to the Western Islands.

Disciplines

Literature in English, British Isles | Philosophy

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or use interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the article. Publisher copyright policy allows author to archive post-print (author’s final manuscript). When post-print is available or publisher policy changes, the article will be deposited

Repository Citation

Erwin, T. (1993). Johnson and Lockean empiricism. In David R. Anderson and Gwin J. Kolb, Approaches to the Teaching of Samuel Johnson 35-41. New York, NY: Modern Language Association.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/english_fac_articles/13