English 2331 Readings in World Literature The Ancients and the Moderns: Of Gods and Heroes, Vision and Quest Fall 2016

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1 English 2331 Readings in World Literature The Ancients and the Moderns: Of Gods and Heroes, Vision and Quest Fall 2016 All men owe honor to the poets honor and awe, for they are dearest to the Muse who puts upon their lips the ways of life. Homer, The Odyssey, Book 8 There is a typical hero sequence of actions which can be detected in stories from all over the world and from the many, many periods of history. It is essentially the one deed done by many, many different people. The hero [or heroine] is someone who has given his [or her] life to something bigger than himself [or herself].... Losing yourself, giving yourself to another, that s a trial in itself, is it not? There is a big transformation that s concerned. And what all the myths have to deal with is the transformation of consciousness that you re thinking this way, and you have now to think in that way. Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth with Bill Moyers Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become. C.S. Lewis, author of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Instructor: Dr. Chris Ellery Office: A021B Phone: Hours: 10-11:30, 2-3 MWF; 8-9:30, 2-3 TR chris.ellery@angelo.edu Catalogue Description A study of diverse works by writers from various countries. Emphasis on reading, comprehending, appreciating, and thinking critically about the selected works within the context of the culture and literary history of the works origin. Prerequisite: English 1301 and 1302 or credit by exam or transfer for these courses. Student Learning Outcomes The most important learning outcome of the class is that you learn to read and respond to literature with pleasure and insight, practicing techniques in literary analysis that will enable you to find meaning in sophisticated texts and communicate this meaning to other readers. More specifically, you should understand the role of literature as an expression of values and an interpretation of the human experience; apply relevant literary terminology; apply various critical methods in order to analyze and discuss literature thoughtfully; understand and appreciate cultural and social diversity.. 1

2 Required Texts Puchner, Martin, gen. ed. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Vol. A. 3rd ed. New York and London: Norton, The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Vol. F. 3rd ed. New York and London: Norton, Wheeler, L. Kip. Literary Vocabulary. Grading Daily Work 10% Exam 1 30% Exam 2 30% Exam 3 30% Daily work includes frequent reading quizzes, group participation, short response essays and reflections, and miscellaneous class activities. Exams are a mixture of objective and short essay. The exams are comprehensive with regard to literary terms and critical techniques, but not with regard to primary works. Odysseus and the Sirens, Greek Red-Figure Stamnos Vase, c BCE, British Museum ( ers_odyssey_in_art_sirens_f.html) Attendance and Make-up Policy: The following attendance policy is consistent with University OP ( Academic Regulations Concerning Student Performance ). This is a face-to-face class. Regular attendance is essential for success in the class. Attendance will be taken daily at the beginning of the period. Students who arrive late or do not answer the roll should see the instructor after class to be sure they are counted present. Students who enter during a quiz will not be given extra time to complete the quiz. Be prepared for class each day. An absence does not excuse the student from being prepared for the next class. Thus, students who miss class should contact a classmate or the instructor to be sure of the assignment for the next class. All assignments are due when called for. Being permitted to submit work after the deadline gives students an advantage over those who turn work in on time; thus late work will be accepted without penalty only in the case of excused absences. The penalty for an unexcused late essay is one-half letter grade for each day late. Students must present credible documentation to receive an excused absence. Absences are excused for school travel, illness, or personal or family emergency. Contact the instructor as soon as possible (before a school trip or personal travel) to excuse the 2

3 absence and arrange make-up work. Daily grades for quizzes and other in-class activities cannot be made up. Two 10- point daily grades will be dropped at the end of the term. ed assignments will be accepted only at the request of the instructor. Accommodations for Disabilities Persons with disabilities that may warrant academic accommodations must contact the Student Life Office, Room 112 University Center, in order to request such accommodations prior to any being implemented. You are encouraged to make this request early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made. (Dean of Student Life) Departmental Statement on Academic Honesty Angelo State University expects its students to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for understanding the Academic Honor Code, which is contained in both print and web versions ( of the Student Handbook. Blatant cases of plagiarism, cheating, or misrepresentation will result in an F for the course and possibly other disciplinary actions. Social Conduct and Personal Responsibilities In this and all college courses, you should conduct yourself with professionalism and collegiality, and you should take responsibility for your own learning and performance. Excellent students are motivated, dedicated, and self-reliant; they have a positive attitude and a good work ethic. You will improve your chances of succeeding in this class by following these rules: Stay focused. Attend class and be actively involved. Pay attention and participate in discussions. Ask questions when you have them and consult your professor when you have concerns. Be prepared every day. Critically read all assignments. Conscientiously complete homework and class activities. Keep up with your work. Jorge Luis Borges, The Garden of Forking Paths ill. from Southern Cross Review Follow instructions carefully, southerncrossreview.org/82/borges-forking.html especially those on assignment prompts, and prepare assignments according to the guidelines provided. 3

4 Encourage learning and collaborate with classmates and support the instructor in the goal of learning. Be courteous. To avoid distracting others, arrive on time and leave when class is dismissed. Avoid talking in class except when appropriate. While it is sometimes acceptable and even desirable to question opinions and even facts offered by others (including the teacher), you should do so respectfully and thoughtfully, with learning goals in mind. Mute and put away cell phones. Do not use any electronic devices, including smartphones and laptops, unless instructed to do so as part of the lesson. Take good care of your body and mind. Keep yourself nourished and rested. Addendum: Core Objectives and Assessment Students in sophomore literature will practice the following core curriculum learning objectives in critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility. Students will then demonstrate their capabilities in these objectives through reading quizzes, written analyses, reflections, or examinations. Critical thinking will be demonstrated in reading quizzes, written analyses, or examinations. Students will gather, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information relevant to a question or issue by mastering a series of assigned literary works in terms of generic conventions and content. Communication will be demonstrated in reading quizzes, written analyses, or examinations.. Students will develop, interpret, and express ideas through effective written communication. Social responsibility will be demonstrated in written reflection on public reading or lecture. Students will demonstrate ability to engage with locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally known literary artists and the texts they create, and to reflect upon the shared traditions of literary expression, the debates that help shape literature, and the conflicts, cultural differences, and shared experiences. Personal responsibility will be demonstrated in reading quizzes, written analyses, or examinations.. Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate choices, actions, and consequences by identifying, analyzing, and evaluating ethical decision-making in literary examples. 4

5 Tentative Schedule: The following schedule lists tentative reading assignments and exam dates for the term. If you miss a class, you should always check with a classmate or the instructor to confirm the assignment. When reading the following selections, be sure to read the anthology author notes. The letter and numbers in brackets are the NAWL volume (A or F) and page numbers of the work. Week 1 M 8/29 Introduction: Course Policies and Procedures W 8/31 Rilke, Archaic Torso of Apollo [F ] F 9/2 Naguib Mahfouz, Zaabalawi [F ] Week 2 M 9/5 Holiday W 9/7 Homer, The Odyssey Books 1-2 [A , ] F 9/9 Homer, The Odyssey Books 3-4 [A ] Week 3 M 9/12 Homer, The Odyssey Books 5-6 [A ] W 9/14 Homer, The Odyssey Books 7-8 [A F 9/16 Homer, The Odyssey Books 9-10 [A ] Week 4 M 9/19 Homer, The Odyssey Books [A ] W 9/21 Homer, The Odyssey Books [A ] F 9/23 Homer, The Odyssey Books [A ] Week 5 M 9/26 Homer, The Odyssey Books [A ] W 9/28 Homer, The Odyssey Books [A ] F 9/30 TBA Week 6 M 10/3 Homer, The Odyssey Books [A ] W 10/5 Homer, The Odyssey Books [A ] F 10/7 Constantine Cavafy, Ithaka [F , ] Review Week 7 M 10/10 W 10/12 F 10/14 Exam 1 Objective Exam 1 Essay Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis Parts I and II [F ] 5

6 Week 8 M 10/17 Kafka, Metamorphosis Part III [F W 10/19 Anna Akhmatova, Requiem [F ] F 10/21 Akhmatova, Requiem [F ] Week 9 M 10/24 Sophocles, Oedipus the King [A (line 616)] W 10/26 Sophocles, Oedipus the King [A 722 (line 617)-747] F 10/28 Aristotle, from Poetics [A ] Week 10 M 10/31 Aristophanes, Lysistrata [A (line 490)] W 11/2 Aristophanes, Lysistrata [A 845 (line 491)-862 F 11/4 Albert Camus, The Guest [F ] Week 11 M 11/7 Camus, The Guest W 11/9 Jorge Luis Borges, The Garden of Forking Paths [F ] F 11/11 Borges, The Garden of Forking Paths Week 12 M 11/14 W 11/16 F 11/18 Week 13 M 11/21 W 11/23 F 11/25 Review Exam 2 Objective Exam 2 Essay Yehuda Amichai, An Arab Shepherd is Searching for His Goat on Mount Zion [F , 938] Holiday Holiday Week 14 M 11/28 Virgil, The Aeneid Books 1-2 [A W 11/30 Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 4 [A ] F 12/2 T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock [F ] Week 15 M 12/5 Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Matryona s Home [F ] W 12/7 Solzhenitsyn, Matryona s Home F 12/9 Review Week 16 W 12/14 Exam 3 (8-10 a.m.) 6