How specific do I need to be in my area of interest?
Hi! I'm exploring Ph.D. and MA English Literature programs but I have a few questions that I wanted to toss out there. Quick background thumbnail: I have a bachelor's degree from Beloit College in English Literature, and one from the U of MN in Physics. What I'm interested in exploring is the effect of the scientific revolution on literature: the way authors absorbed and explored the ideas raised by the phenomenal advances in scientific thought, to the point where Jules Verne was writing "Journey to the Center of the Earth" about two hundred years after Newton published his "Principia Mathematica." I'm particularly interested in the synthesis of science and rational thought with the Romantic school and also the Victorian gothics, but I'm not sure if that's too specific. Which leads to my question: generally speaking, how specific do I need to be in my statement of purpose? Will what I outlined work or do I need to get more refined than that?
Also, I'm not sure what schools I ought to be looking at. I'd prefer schools in the midwest, and on the northeast and northwest coasts, but maybe I can't afford to be too picky? I've been kind of looking at University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor and University of Washington -- Seattle, but I could use other ideas.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Also, I'm not sure what schools I ought to be looking at. I'd prefer schools in the midwest, and on the northeast and northwest coasts, but maybe I can't afford to be too picky? I've been kind of looking at University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor and University of Washington -- Seattle, but I could use other ideas.
Thanks in advance for any help!