ENGL 4399—003 Mean Talking: Oaths, Cursing, and False Swearing
Fall Semester 2011: TR 11.00-12.20pm
Room TBA
“The inventions and discoveries achieved by the virtuosos of swearing comprise a rich treasury …. The
oaths that bloomed in the springtime and maturity of these swearers’ powers displayed an originality, a
virtuosity, a musicality, and an eloquence that not infrequently attained the summit of art”
(Ashley Montagu)
Professor J. Stodnick
Office Hours: W 1.30 p.m.—2.30 p.m. (and at other times by appointment)
624 Carlisle Hall (mailbox in 204 Carlisle Hall)
[email protected]
Course materials
Copypacket
Philip Larkin, Collected Poems. Edited by Anthony Thwaite. Farrar, Straus and Giroux:
2004. ISBN: 978-0374529208
D.H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley’s Lover
You will also need a working e-mail address (every UTA student can obtain
one free of charge—go to the IT helpdesk, floor 1 of the main library for
assistance)
Course Description
This course will take both a thematic and a linguistic approach to the topic of mean
language. The curiously double nature of such language is epitomized by the term
“swearing,” which can refer both to a formal statement made with particular
seriousness of intent and to the informal situation of uttering an obscenity. When and
why is swearing an oath a laudable act? When is it an execrable act? What is the effect
of the oath on the oath-swearer? On the course of the narrative? How does the reader
recognize an oath as an oath, or as a false oath? Within what cultural and institutional
networks does the notion of false swearing emerge? In thinking about these questions
and others, we will read a number of texts that directly engage the topic of mean
language. While historicizing the concept of mean language, then, we will also be
attentive to its particular historical manifestations. By using the OED we will trace the
changing register of words as they move between the realms of ordinary language, slang,
and obscenity.
Student Learning Outcomes
• Students will acquire experience of working in groups, giving a presentation, and
writing a long research paper
• Students will gain experience analyzing texts as cultural phenomena
• Students will gain experience using the Oxford English Dictionary
• Students will learn about the changing definition of swearing, what type of
language is classified as swearing, and how this language impacts on and is
impacted by other cultural categories such as class, race and gender
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Drop policy: Students may drop or swap (adding and dropping a class concurrently)
classes through self-service in MyMav from the beginning of the registration period
through the late registration period. After the late registration period, students must
see their academic advisor to drop a class or withdraw. Undeclared students must see an
advisor in the University Advising Center. Drops can continue through April 1st. It is the
student's responsibility to officially withdraw if they do not plan to attend after
registering. Students will not be automatically dropped for non-attendance.
Repayment of certain types of financial aid administered through the University may be
required as the result of dropping classes or withdrawing. Contact the Financial Aid
Office for more information.
Grading and Attendance Policy: Attendance is vital and will count towards your grade,
as will participation in class. Absences over four will result in your overall grade being
reduced by 5% for every additional absence. Full and timely completion of assignments
will also be reflected in your grade. If you hand in an assignment late, your grade for
that assignment will be reduced by one letter per day after the due date. If you fail to
hand in an assignment at all, you will receive a grade of 0 for that assignment. Grading
will be broken down as follows:
Attendance, participation and quizzes
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Term Project —
Project Proposal
OED Analysis
Presentation
Analytical Paper
10%
15%
20%
5%
20%
8%
22%
Academic dishonesty policy: It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington
that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be
tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in
accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include
suspension or expulsion from the University. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not
limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or
materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, any act designed
to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." [Regents'
Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter Vi, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22]
Americans with Disabilities Act: The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as
being committed to both the spirit and letter of all federal equal opportunity legislation,
including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). All instructors at UT Arlington are
required by law to provide "reasonable accommodations" to students with disabilities, so
as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Any student requiring an
accommodation for this course must provide the instructor with official documentation
in the form of a letter certified by the staff in the Office for Students with Disabilities,
University Hall 102. Only those students who have officially documented a need for an
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accommodation will have their request honored. Information regarding diagnostic
criteria and policies for obtaining disability-based academic accommodations can be
found at www.uta.edu/disability or by calling the Office for Students with Disabilities at
(817) 272-3364.
Academic Integrity: It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that
academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be
tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in
accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include
suspension or expulsion from the University. According to the UT System Regents’ Rule
50101, §2.2, "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism,
collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in
whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act
designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts."
Student Support Services Available: The University of Texas at Arlington provides a
variety of resources and programs designed to help students develop academic skills,
deal with personal situations, and better understand concepts and information related
to their courses. These resources include tutoring, major-based learning centers,
developmental education, advising and mentoring, personal counseling, and federally
funded programs. For individualized referrals to resources for any reason, students may
contact the Maverick Resource Hotline at 817-272-6107 or visit www.uta.edu/resources
for more information.
Electronic Communication Policy: The University of Texas at Arlington has adopted the
University “MavMail” address as the sole official means of communication with students.
MavMail is used to remind students of important deadlines, advertise events and
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aid, payment of bills, and graduation are now sent to students through the MavMail
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To obtain your NetID or for logon assistance, visit
https://webapps.uta.edu/oit/selfservice/. If you are unable to resolve your issue from
the Self-Service website, contact the Helpdesk at [email protected].
Library: Rafia Mirza is the Librarian for the English Department. She can be reached at
817 272 7428, and by email at [email protected]
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SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
__________________________________________________________________________
Week One
R 8/25—
ACTIVITY:
Class introductions.
Course description, objectives, and syllabus
What is swearing?
__________________________________________________________________________
Week Two
Section One— “Oaths are the fossils of piety” (George Santayana)
T 8/30—
Beowulf 1-1250
R 9/1—
Beowulf 1251-3182
The Laws of King Alfred, 871-901
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Three
T 9/6—
Cynewulf and Cyneheard
The Battle of Maldon
Lokasenna
Section Two— “Christ’s blood, these days, is reckoned of little price among the
greater part of the people” (John Waldeby)
R 9/8—
The Owl and the Nightingale
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Four
T 9/13—
Thomas Malory, Morte D’Arthure, “The Knight of the Cart”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Parts 1 and 2
R 9/15—
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Parts 3 and 4
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Five
T 9/20—
Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue 725-46
Man of Law’s Tale
R 9/22—
Man of Law’s Tale (cont.)
Franklin’s Tale
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Six
T 9/27—
Pardoner’s Tale
Section of Parson’s Tale
Skelton, Poems
R 9/29—
Pardoner’s Tale
Section of Parson’s Tale
Skelton, Poems
PROJECT PROPOSAL DUE
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Seven
Section Three— “Why, thou clay-brained guts, thou nott-pated fool, thou
whoreson, obscene, greasy tallow-keech” (William Shakespeare)
T 10/4—
Robert Copland, The Highway to the Spital-House
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R 10/6—
Thomas Harman, A Caveat or Warning for Common Cursitors,
Vulgarly Called Vagabonds
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Eight
T 10/11—
MIDTERM EXAM
R 10/13—
Philip Stubbes, Anatomie of Abuses
(http://www.archive.org/details/phillipstubbessa00stubuoft), 12936
Shakespeare, extract from Richard II and Henry IV Part I
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Nine
T 10/18—
Writing Workshop
Section Four— “Blasphemy itself could not survive religion; if anyone doubts that
let him try to blaspheme Odin” (G.K. Chesterton)
R 10/20—
John Wilmot, Second Earl of Rochester, Poems
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Ten
T 10/25—
Jonathan Swift, “The Lady’s Dressing Room” and Polite Conversation
R 10/27—
Jonathan Swift, The Swearer’s Bank. Extracts from Steele and
Addison.
OED ANALYSIS DUE
____________________________________________________________________________
Week Eleven
Section Five— “Damns have had their day” (Sheridan)
T 11/1—
Robert Graves, Lars Porsena or The Future of Swearing and
Improper Language
R 11/3—
Robert Graves, Lars Porsena or The Future of Swearing and
Improper Language
__________________________________________________________________________
Week Twelve
T 11/8—
Writing Workshop
R 11/10—
D.H. Lawrence, A Propos of Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
__________________________________________________________________________
Week Thirteen
T 11/15—
D.H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley’s Lover
R 11/17—
D.H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Trial Records
__________________________________________________________________________
Week Fourteen
T 11/22—
Philip Larkin, Selected poems
Joseph Bristow, “The obscenity of Philip Larkin”
R 11/24—
No class. Thanksgiving break
__________________________________________________________________________
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Week Fifteen
T 11/29—
Student presentations
R 12/1—
Student presentations
__________________________________________________________________________
Week Sixteen
T 12/6—
Student presentations
ANALYTICAL PAPER DUE
R 12/8—
Student presentations
__________________________________________________________________________
FINAL EXAM — Date TBA
__________________________________________________________________________
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