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WELCOME!!
Welcome to Introduction to Literature - ENG-121-02
TR 9:30 - 10:45 - Trailer – DO1
Professor Claire Berger
fall 2007
My office: Wilson East 214 - Office Hours: M - 4-5 (in Camden) and in Blackwood
T - 1-3 and R – 12:30-1:30, or by appointment
Mailbox: Wilson East, English Department - email address: [email protected]
Phone: 609-227-7200 - ext 4713, home phone: 856-428-5707
Maximum number of absences allowed - 4; maximum number of absences preferred - 0
Text Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, 10th edition, Eds. X. J.
Kennedy and Dana Gioia (paper portable or hardback)
Objectives:
1. To understand and appreciate three genres of literature: short story, poetry and
drama
2. To comprehend the major aspects of literature; e.g., plot, conflict, setting, point of
view, symbol, theme, irony
3. To gain insight into how literature illuminates the human condition so that you can
understand yourself better as well those in your own world and other worlds.
Methods of Meeting Objectives:
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Lectures
Discussions
Written assignments
Audio-visual presentations
Quizzes and examinations
Conferences
In-class group work
Oral Presentations - individual or panel
Assessments:
1. There will be unannounced quizzes to be sure you have read the assignment; the
questions on these quizzes will often be used to facilitate the class discussion.
2. There will be four major essay exams. The dates are noted on the course outline but
may be subject to change.
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3. You will write a short (about 500 words) essay on a piece of literature that is included
in our book; this work must be one that was not studied in class. Note guidelines for this
paper on the last page of this outline.
4. Class participation will be evaluated.
Grades:
Quizzes, oral presentations, and class participation will be averaged to form one grade;
other grades, which will be weighted equally, include the major tests and the final essay.
See more about grades on the last page of this outline.
Course Outline
Please note: (1)You are expected to read carefully the
work that is assigned. For
example, on 9/6 , come to class prepared to discuss ΑA&P≅ and ΑFirst Confession≅
and on 9/8, ΑGreasy Lake≅ (2) This outline is subject to change. (3) Expect a quiz at
any time.
Week 1 - 9/4, 9/6
9/4 - Introduction to the course; handout - Introduction to literary devices
9/6 - We begin the course by reading and analyzing short stories. The stories are
grouped according to common themes and common literary devices.
The following three stories by John Updike, Frank O=Connor and T.C.Boyle have the
following theme in common: Coming of Age - Rite of Passage and many of the following
literary devices: epiphany, allusions, stmetaphors, humor. Setting is important in each of
these stories. Also note the POV - 1 person singular or plural
ΑA & P≅ by John Updike and ΑFirst Confession≅ by Frank O=Connor (Handout)
ΑOnly through art can we get outside of ourselves and know another=s view of the
universe which is not the same as ours and see the landscapes that would otherwise
have remained unknown to us.≅
Marcel Proust
Week 2 - 9/11, 9/13
911 - ΑGreasy Lake≅ by T. C. Boyle
The following three stories by Kate Chopin and Zora Neale Hurston concern marital
relationships, women=s suppression and rebellion. Note the limited omniscient narrator
irony, symbolism, epiphany
9/13 - ΑThe Story Of An Hour≅ and ΑThe Storm≅ by Kate Chopin
Week 3 - 9/18, 9/20
9/18 - ΑSweat≅ by Zora Neale Hurston
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The next two stories illustrate human nature, resistance to change, survival, instinct for
evil. Note foreshadowing, irony
9/20 - ΑA Rose for Emily≅ by William Faulkner
Week 4 - 9/25, 9/27
9/25 - ΑThe Lottery≅ by Shirley Jackson
9/27 - Catch up and review for test
Week 5 - 10/2, 10/4
10/2 - Test 1 Short Stories
ΑAll that remains of communities and civilizations, all that remains of their worth and
dignity exists in the art they leave.≅
William Carlos Williams
With the next four stories, we will study different cultures, values, relationships,
women=s roles. Note the use of parable, allegory, open ended ending, irony
10/4 - ΑDead Man=s Path≅ by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria) and ΑA Family Supper≅ by
Kazuo Ishiguro (Japan)
Week 6 - 10/9, 10/11
10/9 - ΑThe Prophecy≅ by Anjana Appachana (India) and ΑThe Necklace≅ by Guy de
Maupassant (France) – (Handout)
Studying a work by Edgar Allan Poe
We will be looking at symbolism, unity of effect - human psychology
10/11 - ΑThe Tell Tale Heart≅
Week 7 - 10/16, 10/18
Two stories to consider: one - the futility of war which you will see again when we begin
our poetry unit and the other (Carver=s) - the effects of prejudice. Also look fo the
symbolism both authors employ.
10/16 - ΑThe Things They Carried≅ by Tim O=Brien
10/18 - ΑCathedral≅ by Raymond Carver
Week 8 - 10/23, 10/25
10/23 - Catch up and review for test
10/25 - Test 2 Short Stories
Week 9 - 10/30, 11/1
Futility of War - blending fiction and poetry
10/30 & 11/1 - ΑDulce Et Decorum Est≅ and ΑAnthem for Doomed
Youth by Wilfred Owen,
ΑThe Death of The Ball Turret Gunner≅ by Randall Jarrell
ΑFacing It≅ by Yusef Komunyakaa
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Week 10 – 11/6, 11/8- We continue our study of poetry.
Listening to your favorite song? You may be listening to poetry! ((See the above
illustration.)
A great mystery? a poem contains mystery only if you think so. Read pages in text that
address poetry, and remember what Octavio Paz says: ΑPoetry must be given,
shared, poured out like wine from a bottle and water from a pitcher.≅ Poetry is meant to
be read aloud and I will be reading the poems to you in class until you begin to feel
comfortable about reading and interpreting. At that point, we will be working in groups.
Poems by Robert Frost:
ΑOut, Out≅ Mending Wall” ≅ ΑThe Road Not Taken≅ - p. 962
ΑBirches≅ ΑStopping by Woods On a Snowy Evening≅
Poems by William Wordsworth:
ΑI Wandered Lonely As A Cloud≅
ΑThe World Is Too Much With Us≅
ΑComposed Upon Westminster Bridge≅
Week 11 - 11/13, 11/15
Poems by Emily Dickinson: ΑI heard a fly buzz when I died≅ Because I could not stop
for death≅ ΑThe bustle in the house≅ ΑMuch madness is divinest sense≅ ΑHope≅ &
ΑI never saw A moor≅ (last 3 are handouts)
Poems by Langston Hughes: ΑThe Negro Speaks of Rivers≅
Mother To Son≅ ΑHarlem ( A Dream Deferred)≅
Weeks 12 and 13 - 11/20, 11/22 (Thanksgiving, no class; enjoy the holiday)
11/27, 11/29
Poems by A. E. Housman:
ΑWhen I Was One and Twenty≅ ΑTo An Athlete Dying Young”
ΑLoveliest of Trees,The Cherry Now≅
Poems by William Blake:
The Chimney Sweeper” and ΑLondon
Poems by Seamus Heaney:
ΑA Chorus≅ (handout), ΑDigging≅ Mother of The Groom≅ - (Handout)
ΑNations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting and
music are destroyed or flourish.≅ William Blake
Gwendolyn Brooks - ΑWe Real Cool≅ and ΑDo Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night≅
by Dylan Thomas
Matthew Arnold - ΑDover Beach≅ Carolyn Forche - ΑThe Colonel≅
Week 14 - 12/4, 12/6
12/4 – Review for poetry test
12/6 - Poetry Test
Week 15 - 12/11, 12/13
12/11 – no class – holistic reading
12/13 - Introduction to Greek Drama and the play Antigone by Sophocles.
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This play will be enacted by the members of the class; be sure to volunteer; remember,
you do get a grade for class participation.
Week 16 - 12/18
Test - Antigone (open book) and Final paper due
Leave a self-addressed-stamped envelope if you want your essay and your drama
test returned. (Your final grade will also be placed on the essay or the test.)
See the instructions on the next page.
Enjoy the holidays
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Final essay
Make an appointment to see me to discuss your final paper. I must approve the choice
and the thesis. You will find that this appointment will be very helpful.
1. The essay should be an explication, analysis, or an evaluation of a poem, short story or play
that is in our text, but the literary piece that you choose must be one that we have not discussed
in class.
2. Be sure you have a thesis statement and focus on it. Please underline or highlight your
thesis.
3. The essay should be no less than 500 or no more than 1500 words.
4. It should be typed, double-spaced, stapled, have a title page. (Be sure you have a title on
your title page.)
5. Your sources should be documented. (Use parenthetical citations.) Include a Work(s) Cited
page.
6. Read /check ΑWriting About Literature≅ in our text for explanations, examples. You
will find these pages very helpful!!
7. Place your essay and your SASE in a white folder that has pockets. If you want me to return
the essay with the folder, include a manilla envelope with four stamps. If you just want me to
return the essay, include a long business-size envelope with two stamps.
More about grades:
quizzes, oral presentations, class participation = 1 grade
short story test #1 = 1 grade
short story test #2 = 1 grade
poetry test = 1 grade
drama test = 1 grade
final essay = 1 grade
These grades are totaled and divided by 6 for your final grade