Eng 208—Survey of World Literature Spring 2008

L. Michelle Baker Office: Knutti G6

lbaker@shepherd.edu Tues / Thurs 3 - 5
Course Purpose & Objectives:

It follows that the first science to be learned should be mythology or the interpretation of fables; […] This is the proper starting point for universal history.

~~~Giambattista Vico. The New Science. 1725~~~
This course will familiarize students with great works of literature from both Western and non-Western traditions, from ancient times through the early 17^th century, with a special focus on the topic “Descents to the Underworld.” Our study will begin with the classical, Western tradition, embodied in Homer, Virgil, and Dante, and it is here that we will spend approximately half of the course. The second half will be divided between folklore and legend, including selections from the Celtic Mabinogion and the Mayan Popol Vuh, and spiritual accounts (such as the Jewish apocryphal work, the “Gospel of Nicodemus,” or the Taoist Divine Panorama). The course will examine the concepts and elements of underworld journeys in both literary and philosophical terms, and will hopefully encourage discussion and thought of such an idea in modern American and global cultures.
Essential Skills and Outcomes to be Acquired Through the Course Include:

1) an ability to render close textual analysis;

2) an ability to synthesize information from multiple texts;

3) an ability to render clear, cogent ideas;

4) an ability to structure well-developed essays, with thesis, textual support, and analysis;

5) an ability to correctly employ standard written English usage;

6) an understanding of ethnic/cultural diversity;

7) an aesthetic and critical judgment of literature;

8) a concept of chronology associated with literary periods;

9) an understanding of the inter-relationship of the arts, history, and philosophy through the study of literature.

Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Signet Classic Ed.

MLA Handbook—any version such as Hodge’s Harbrace Handbook is acceptable, but the handbook must include the most recent MLA guidelines

Shepherd University computer and email accounts

20% Research Project

25% Exam 1

15% Exam 2

15% Exam 3

25% Quizzes/Study Sheets/Class Participation

Course Requirements

Attendance:

It is assumed that students enroll at Shepherd University of their own free will, that they do so because of a fervent desire to learn, and that only unavoidable circumstances prevent them from attending class. Therefore, no absence needs to be documented. Conversely, no absence is excused. The instructor can apprise students of missed assignments (see following paragraph for policy), but only other students can share lecture notes and explain in-class activities. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to maintain contact information for classmates, including telephone numbers and email addresses.

Students who are aware that they will miss a class should advise the instructor and request permission to either turn in their study guides or take quizzes before the missed class. Study guides are not accepted late and neither quizzes nor exams can be made up. Students who miss a class may choose to inform the instructor after the fact for the sake of courtesy, but exceptions to this policy will not be made.
Student athletes should speak to the instructor immediately upon enrolling in the course to apprise her of their school-related activities. Student athletes are also required to advise her themselves (i.e., do not rely upon your coach’s communications with faculty), preferably in person, before any scheduled absence. Failure to do so will result in the inability to make up work missed.
Readings:

Reading assignments are listed below. You should be prepared to discuss intelligently each day’s reading when you come to class. Given that many of these works of literature are from cultures and languages quite foreign to our own, this will frequently mean that you must read with a dictionary and an encyclopedia, and take notes while reading. Please see “Reading Tips” for more information.

Quiz and Exam Policy:

Quizzes will be given frequently and cannot be made up. Exam dates are listed below and also cannot be made up. Please be certain that you have no conflicts with the exam dates as they constitute a significant percentage of your grade. The final exam will be given during the final exam period and will NOT be cumulative.

Study Guides:

Study guides are available on the website. Each student is responsible for obtaining and completing study sheets, which are to be turned in the day the reading is scheduled on the syllabus. Late sheets will not be accepted. The sheets are graded simply complete or incomplete, but answers will be discussed in preparation for exams.
Email Policy:

Every student must maintain an active Shepherd University email account and must keep the instructor apprised of the address. You may choose to forward this email to any other account of your choice. Assignments and other important communication will be sent via email. It is therefore imperative that each student check his or her email account regularly. Work is not accepted via email without prior approval by the instructor, and, if sent without such approval, will be considered late and/or refused.

Research Paper:

More detailed instructions and information on the content of the research paper will be given later in the semester. The paper must be prepared in accordance with MLA formatting guidelines and as such must be computer-generated. As the writer of a research paper of at least 1,500 words, you should be familiar with the resources available to you through Scarborough Library, and you are expected to understand how to quote, summarize, and paraphrase sources appropriately. Plagiarism or academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in automatic failure of the course as well as any other disciplinary action that Shepherd University deems appropriate as outlined in the Student Handbook.
Academic Support Center:

Students are strongly encouraged to seek assistance from the Academic Support Center located in Knutti 114, Telephone: 876-5221, online at

<http://www.shepherd.edu/ascweb>.

Tutoring service is FREE, and tutors are available to assist with understanding the readings and preparing for quizzes and exams.

Reading Assignments
Numbers refer to page numbers in the Norton anthologies. Numbers in parentheses refer as appropriate to book, chapter, canto, and line numbers. Please note that many of these readings are only available online through the links contained in this syllabus. Others may be given as handouts or kept on reserve in Scarborough Library. This schedule of readings is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Announcements of changes may be made in class or via email. It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of all changes.
R Jan 10	Syllabus and Introductions.
T Jan 15	Homer. Odyssey. 114-9, 225-8, 278-97. (Intro, 1.1-125, 5 & 6)
R Jan 17	"" "" 297-332. (7-9)
T Jan 22	"" "" 332-363. (10 &11)
R Jan 24	"" "" 363-384. (12 - 13.367)
T Jan 29	"" "" 458 - 474, 483-494. (19, 21)
R Jan 31	"" "" 494- 530. (22-24)
T Feb 5	Virgil. Aeneid. 1041-3, 1052-1063. (Intro, 1)
R Feb 7	"" "" 1063-1106. (2, 4)
T Feb 12	Snow day—Class canceled
R Feb 14	"" "" 1106-1125. (6)
T Feb 19	Dante. Inferno. 1826-1854. (Intro, 1-6)
R Feb 21	"" "" 1854-1885 (7-16)
T Feb 26	"" "" 1885-1913 (17-25)
R Feb 28	"" "" 1913-1942 (18-34)
T Mar 4	*****Exam 1 -- Classical / Western Tradition*****
R Mar 6	Popol Vuh. 3076-3092. (1-5)
	(Research Paper to be assigned)
T Mar 11	The Divine Panorama. Book of the Dead. (see Study Guide for instructions for retrieving from the internet).
R Mar 13	"Gospel of Nicodemus."
T Mar 18	Spring Recess—Class Cancelled
R Mar 20	Spring Recess—Class Cancelled
T Mar 25	Mahabharata. Books 17 & 18. (Note—when you have finished reading Book 17, you must return to Index and select Book 18 from the list at the top of the page)
R Mar 27	Book of Taliesin. "The Spoils of Annwn."
	(Instructions given for outline, annotated bibliography, and integrating sources)
T Apr 1	****Exam 2 – Spiritual Tradition****
R Apr 3	Shahnama of Firdausi. "Sikandar." (on reserve in Scarborough Library)
	*****Outline & Annotated Bibliography Due*****
	(Friday, April 4—Last Day to Withdraw--by NOON)
T Apr 8	The Mabinogion. "Pwyll Lord of Dyved."
R Apr 10	Beowulf. 1626-1661.
T Apr 15	"" "" 1661-1702.
R Apr 17	Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Acts I & II
T Apr 22	"" "" "" Acts III – V
	*****Research Paper Due*****
R Apr 24	Spring Weekend Recess (if no snow days used)—Class Cancelled
T Apr 29	Son-Jara. 2409-2442. (1-4)
R May 1	"" "" 2442-2462. (5-7)
Final Exam--See Registrar's Schedule

Section / CRN:

208-05 / 40557

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