Texts (in order):
_Introduction to Scholarship in Modern Languages and Literatures_, Gibaldi
_Modern Criticism and Theory_, Lodge
"The Imp of the Perverse," Poe
_Huck Finn_, Twain (Mark Twain Library ea.)
_The Awakening_, Chopin (Norton Critical ea.)
Emily Dickinson, poems (xerox)
"The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock," Eliot
_The Sound and the Fury_, Faulkner (Norton Critical ea.)
_The Glass Menagerie_, Williams
_The Way to Rainy Mountain_, Momaday
_Woman Warrior_, Hong-Kingston
_The Bluest Eye_, Morrison
Schedule:
Jan. 23 Overview of course, history of the profession
Jan. 30 History (cont.) & canon formation issues; Guest speaker-Ken Roemer
Feb. 6 "The Imp of the Perverse"; Guest speaker-Victor Vitanza
Feb. 13 _Huck Finn_; Guest speaker-Phil Cohen,Tim Morris
Feb. 20 _The Awakening_; Guest speaker-Stacey Alaimo, Dawn Eidelman
Feb. 27 Dickinson, poems; Guest speaker-Tim Morris
March 6 "J. Alfred Prufrock"; Guest speaker-Tom Porter
March 13 Spring break: no class
March 20 _The Sound and the Fury_; Guest speaker-Phil Cohen
March 27 _The Glass Menagerie_ Guest speaker-Tom Porter
April 3 _Rainy Mountain_ Guest speakers-Ken Roemer, Jeanne Smith
April 10 _Woman Warrior_ Guest speakers-Carolyn Barros, Martin Danahay _
April 17 _The Bluest Eye Guest speaker-Rajani Sudan
April 24 Presentation of papers
May 1 Presentation of papers
Policies and Procedures:
Course objectives: The objective of this course is to provide a history of the profession; to extend students' understanding of critical theory, building upon the writers introduced in English 5300; and to integrate various theoretical approaches into pedagogy. The course will begin with two introductory lectures on the history of the profession, the origin of criticism as a discipline and its effect upon the profession, the advent of various critical theories and the resistance to theory, and issues of canon formation.
The next ten sessions will focus on the application of various theories, using works of American literature likely to be encountered in a high school or community college syllabus. In each of these sessions, guest speakers from the English Department who are experts in these areas will present their approach to the text in question, drawing upon various critical theories as well as explaining the historical evolution their own teaching of this piece has gone through. These individual histories should provide illustrations of the history of the profession from another perspective. Students will be asked to write short (two page) papers on each of the works studied, with topics assigned the previous week.
The final two sessions will be devoted to students' presentation of their seminar papers (see below).
Readings: I assume you will already be acquainted with many of the literary texts. Unless you have read them within the last year, however, please plan on rereading them. A close familiarity with the texts is a prerequisite for informed class discussions. Bring the text with you to class. (Poe, Dickinson, and Eliot are available at the Fast Copy Center.)
Seminar paper
Choose one of the ten literary texts/artists and:
1) For the discussion night of this text, distribute to the class an annotated bibliography of ~10 recent articles or chapters on this work representing a cross section of critical approaches. (In the case of Poe and Dickinson, the articles need not be on the specific texts discussed in class.) Be prepared to take a leadership role in the class discussion of your text. You might, for example, prepare a list of discussion questions, pedagogical issues or difficulties the text raises, and so forth.
2) Write a 12-15 page seminar paper, a) discussing your chosen text from one or more critical perspectives, clearly set forth, and incorporating appropriate secondary sources to supplement your discussion and b) commenting at some length on how you might incorporate these insights into your teaching of this text.
No more than two students may select a given text. You may work as a team if you like, but each student will write her/his own seminar paper. Sign up for a text by no later than Jan. 30.
Due: three weeks after the discussion date.
Exceptions: Rainy Mountain, Woman Warrior, and Bluest Eye, which are all due April 24.
Note: No late papers will be accepted. In case of conflicts or other complications, see me in advance for extensions.
Packaging: Your paper must be typed or computer printed (no dot matrix, please), with page numbers and meaningful titles, and free of all mechanical errors. I prefer stapled or paper clipped, no plastic binders. Keep an extra copy for yourself.
Grading: The course grade will be determined as follows:
Short papers 200 points
Seminar paper 200 points
Total 400 points
I will also take into account the quality of your preparation for class and your contribution to class discussions. All papers must be completed to receive credit for the course.
Attendance is required at every meeting.
Literature Seminars
Literature HP & Program
The ENGLISH HOME PAGE
Lauren Porter's HP.