ENGL 2112-D World Literature II -- Syllabus Dr. Robinson

Spring Semester 2001

5:00-6:15 pm, TT in Technology 2110

Office: Newton 3303B

My Office Telephone: 681-0155

English Department Telephone: 681-5471

Office Hours: By appointment

E-Mail: DWROB@gasou.edu

Homepage: http://www.oneeyedman.com/home/

Class discussion forum: http://www.litphil.gasou.edu/cgi-bin/mwf/forum.pl

REQUIRED TEXTS:

• The Literature of the Western World, Vol. 2, eds. Wilkie & Hurt (Prentice-Hall)
• Any hardcover collegiate dictionary
• A style/grammar handbook

PURPOSE: This is the second segment of the two-part sequence of courses providing an overview of the Western tradition in literature from the beginnings (with the ancient Jews and Greeks) down to the present century. By "Western" is meant, roughly, European, along with those regions of the world colonized by Europeans, such as the Americas. The period that we will be discussing, approximately the last three centuries, contains several highly complex cultural and historical movements. In the course of reading our literature selections, we will have to orient ourselves with respect to phenomena such as Rationalism and its Romantic counter-reaction; the growth of industrialism, capitalism, and colonialism; the birth of evolutionary theory, psychoanalysis, and modern physics; and the advent of radical political ideologies and, in the 20^th century, ideological wars. This is the historical background against which literary movements like Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and Post-Modernism need to be examined. There are two broad goals to this course: first, to construct a historical understanding through literature of the Western culture that has shaped us, and second, to gain skill at reading diverse texts.

PROCEDURES & PROVISOS: The reading load will be quite heavy, so do not fall behind. Class discussions will begin with an examination of the day's comments submitted by the class to the on-line forum (see the handouts describing how this will work). There will be no make-up examinations. Note: cellular phones, pagers, and other disruptive electronic equipment must be turned off while you are in class. Failure to observe this rule will negatively impact your participation grade. An exception will be made for emergency medical personnel, but for no others.

GRADING: Participation will be graded based on the on-line forum (See. The handouts for details.). Three examinations will be given, each non-comprehensive. These will consist of identification questions: an excerpted piece of writing will be presented, and you must identify it and discuss it in detail, showing a knowledge of the entire work from which it was drawn. These passages will be ones that we have specifically discussed in class. (Attendance will not be taken, but you probably won't pass these exams if you don't attend regularly -- your choice!) You will not be tested on the material in the headnotes of the reading assignments, but if you are interested in doing well, read the headnotes. The course grade will be calculated as follows:

Participation.........................	25%
Exam I.................................	25%
Exam II ...............................	25%
Exam III (Final)..................	25%
Total ...................................	100%

Tentative Class Schedule: Students are responsible for any changes to this schedule which may be announced in class. The page numbers given below refer to the Wilkie & Hurt anthology unless otherwise indicated. All of the assigned reading is due on the day it is first listed.

Final Examination: Tuesday, May 1, 5:30-7:30 pm, in the usual place.