ENGLISH 160 WORLD LITERATURE THROUGH THE RENAISSANCE FALL PROFESSOR LESLEY DANZIGER Friday 9:35 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Home Ec.

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1 ENGLISH 160 WORLD LITERATURE THROUGH THE RENAISSANCE FALL 2004 PROFESSOR LESLEY DANZIGER Friday 9:35 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Home Ec. 114 Office Hours: L/L :45-1:45 p.m and by appointment Phone: / ldanzige@occ.cccd.edu

2 CRITICAL APPROACH, GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS, GRADING Critical Approach This course will explore the literature of world cultures from both universal and local perspectives. These perspectives reflect contemporary critical theory which locates literature within a cultural context, but which references the importance of the cultural perspective of the reader in interpreting the text. An important extra caveat in this course is that we are already reading the texts through the lens of a specific translator who has brought his or her own cultural and linguistic bias to the translation. Goals Each text will be approached and discussed in terms of these kinds of questions: What does the content of the text tell the reader about specific cultural and historical values and concerns? What do the texts share across cultures in terms of value? What makes them unique as texts and in what way do they reflect global concerns about personal and political idealism and reality, about the clashes between tradition and progress, technology and nature. Can you present sufficient evidence from the text that your reading supports your interpretation of the author's intention? In addition, each semester the texts will be be studied with a certain thematic focus in mind - to assist you in tracing similarities and differences across texts. Fall the focus will be on the changing idea of heroism, what it means to be a hero in each text, what the literary hero tells us about the cultural values he or she represents, how ideas about religion, patriotism, family, love, home, parenting, affect our notions of what it means to be a hero. To familiarize students with excellent examples of world literature up to an including the Renaissance To familiarize students with major literary and cultural styles, including elements of the epic, of tragedy and satire, of romance To increase students' ability to read comparative literature from a contemporary critical perspective To improve students' ability to analyze and respond to literature with depth and clarity in verbal and written forms. Expectations Come to class - more than two absences and you will be dropped Don't be late - once I have taken roll, you are absent Don t leave early. Only athletes with special permission from coaches may leave early without being counted as absent Turn your work in on time - Journals especially must be turned in on the day I request or they drop to half credit the next class, then no credit. Be honest - if you are caught cheating in any form, you receive an F on the assignment. Be especially careful with plagiarism in your use of the internet. It is much better to over-cite your references than to fail to cite information or direct quotes and be guilty of plagiarism. The college policy on plagiarism is outlined in the English Department Tip Sheet. Get involved - class participation does count - although I don't assign specific points, I reserve the right to boost borderline grades on the basis of participation Be respectful of others in the class - turn cell phones off before class begins, raise your hand to make a point, don't distract other students with side discussions Take charge of your own learning. If you miss an assignment, check my web site, contact a study buddy, and finally me. If you are having trouble in class, come to one of my office hours or contact me for an appointment. Fall 2004 I can usually be found in my office in the Computing Center room xxx at extension If you miss a class, I expect you to call or and explain why. Bring your work next time and be prepared for the next assignment. Journals If you have been in one of my literature classes before, you know how much I believe in the value of students writing journal responses to the literature we read. I focus on in-depth reading of fewer works rather than

3 superficial reading of more texts. Blame it on my English education. Students usually find the journals very valuable. Here are the ground rules for the journals:. 1-2 pages, typed, double-spaced 12 font No right answer: Journals should reflect your understanding of the text - what the text tells you about the author/the cultural values being explored, demonstrated, questioned or celebrated - how these values compare to those expressed in your contemporary culture Your interpretation must be supported by specific references to the text (book, page and line citations in parenthesis)- minimum of two textual citations - several short quotes better than one or two long ones I have assigned 10 journals for the semester. Unit Exams There are three unit exams, one on each of the three periods we study: classical, medieval and renaissance. Each unit exam is composed of an in-class essay (80 points) and an analysis of one or more literature excerpts (10 points each). You will not be able to use notes or textbooks and you will be expected to bring a blue book to class for the exam. (Total 100 x 3 = 300 points) Cultural Exhibitions I have structured this semester's class around three cultural units: classical, medieval and renaissance. You will be expected to exhibit in a creative, informative way some greater understanding of one of the cultural periods we are studying. Sign up for a cultural exhibition to be presented at any time during the weeks in which we study that period. Unit Exams take a maximum of 90 minutes, so you can also use the second half of the class meeting during these times. A maximum of 1/3 of the class can sign up for any unit: classical, medieval, renaissance. I prefer you present in a group of 2-4 people, but if you are a committed loner, you can present individually. Allow 5 minutes for individual presentations, ten minutes for two people and fifteen minutes for groups of 3 or 4 people. I will time you and cut you off even if the presentation is not complete. Creativity and keeping your audience interested is key. ( 50 points) If you would rather submit a written cultural exhibition, which may be creative (a journal written by someone of the time period for example) or research based, you must be willing to allow me to share with other students via my web site. Some suggestions for cultural exhibitions: create a computer based presentation, a group discussion using video clips, a set of readings from literature create a presentation on the art/architecture/music of the time review a particular social group - the role of women compare the literature we have studied to a contemporary cultural version - a movie, play or novel that recreates the time period - e.g. How realistically has Hollywood portrayed the Greeks, the Romans, the Medieval knights? Did Monty Python capture anything real about the Middle Ages? Is Brad Pitt convincing as a Greek hero? cover a culture, time period or literary work which we have not had time to study - e.g. Asian or Arabic role play literary or historical characters - philosophers or writers debating the notions of heroism, love, family, patriotism, religion etc. Grading I grade on a points system, with a percentage basis. I don't grade on the curve. Your grade will be based on the following assignments. Class points may vary slightly if I decide to add small assignments. 10 one page journal entries - no right answer - but textual support unit exams 300 Cultural Exhibition Extra Credit I do allow 2 extra credit activities for 10 points each. You may earn extra credit by attending a cultural event such as a movie/play/art exhibition/lecture that reinforces or relates to what we are studying and submitting a one page journal. Let me know of any event that is going on so I can spread the word to other students.

4 SYLLABUS Required Text: The Norton Anthology of World Literature Vols. A, B, C ed. Maynard Mack Unit 1: The Classical Era (Volume A) Week 1 9/3 Introductions/Course Overview and Expectations Introduction to Homer: The Iliad and the Odyssey Movie: Introduction to The Odyssey Assignment: The Odyssey Journal #1: Books 1-8 ( ) Focus on Telemachus, and Odysseus s relationship with women What do we learn about the Ancient Greek view of the characteristics of a hero How should a hero behave as the leader of the military, as a parent, as a husband, as a sexually active male, in his attitude towards religious beliefs? How does this view of a hero differ from the view of many contemporary Americans? Week #2 9/10 Discuss Journal #1 Telemachus, Penelope., Odysseus, Calypso, Nausicaa and the Cyclops Assignment: The Odyssey Journal #2: #1: 9-12 ( )- Focus on the lessons learned in the adventures with monsters and gods and the Greek view of life after death #2: ( ) Focus on Odysseus and how he behaves as the returning hero in disguise? Week 3 9/17 Discuss Journal #2 Assignment: Journal #3: The Odyssey ( ) What does the punishment of the suitors and the handmaidens reveal about the values of the culture? Is the bloodshed justifiable in terms of the rest of the epic? To a contemporary reader? What do you think of the resolution of the epic? Week 4 9/24 Discuss The Odyssey Journal #3 Review of The Odyssey style/themes/characters Guest Speaker: Guest Speaker: Dr. Shampa Mazumdar, Professor of Sociology, UCI The Bhagavad Gita An Indian epic of heroism, religion and cultural values Assignment: The Aeneid Journal #4 #1: Books 1-IV ( ) Focus on the relationship between Dido and Aeneas - how does Virgil treat their relationship/aeneas' decision to leave and Dido's death - where do your sympathies lie? Do you agree or disagree with Virgo about how a hero should behave? #2: Books V-XII ( ) Focus on Virgil's portrayal of Aeneas' experiences and encounters in the Underworld - what does Virgil learn from his journey there? How is this experience supposed to help his mission? What does the underworld tell you about Roman culture and values? What is your response to these values? Week 5 10/1 Discuss Journal #4 The Aeneid and the Ancient Roman view of the Hero

5 Assignment: Journal #5: Sophocles' Antigone Focus on the increasingly divergent views of heroism and patriotism Select what you regard as the four or five key speeches in the play about how one should act as a leader and as a citizen. Cite the pages, summarize the views presented in the speeches, and offer your own comments. Week 6 10/8 Discuss Antigone, Journal 5 Classical Greek Tragedy: religion, heroism, leadership and good citizenship Week 7 10/15 Unit 1 Exam: The Classical Era Assignment: Journal #6: The Song of Roland Volume B verses 1-291( ) Focus on the character of Roland What drives him? How does he differ from Odysseus and Aeneas? Is his heroism diminished by political and religious agendas? By his own ego? Why are there no women involved in the action of this epic? What does their absence reveal about medieval culture and its notions of heroism Unit 2: The Middle Ages - Religion and Patriotism (Volume B) Week 9 10/22 Introduction to the Middle Ages Discuss Journal 6- The Song of Roland Medieval Lyrics Selections from the text Assignment: Journal 7: Dante's Divine Comedy Read pages The Inferno Select one or more of these prompts How does Dante's afterworld compare to Virgil's or Odysseus'? Which images of punishment do you find the most striking, apt or memorable? How has Christianity affected the way the afterlife is portrayed? Why Virgil as the guide? Do the different types of sinners reflect any peculiarly catholic mediaeval prejudices? Focus on the importance of love - its potential to save sinners and its meaning in paradise. Is this idea medieval idea of love still meaningful to a contemporary reader? Since this poem was motivated by love and focuses on the importance of "true" love in the religious sense, how have women and relationships been presented? Week 10 10/28 Discuss Journal #7: Dante s Inferno Week 11 Guest Speaker: Renza Braca: The Importance of The Divine Comedy in Italian Culture. Journal #8: The Thousand and One Nights (Selections) Focus How does this Arabic female main character project a different view of heroism than we have seen so far? How does the style of this folk narrative differ from the more formal epics we have studied so far?

6 11/5 Discuss Journal #8 Guest Speaker: Saeeda Wali-Mohammed An Arabic View of Female Heroism in The Thousand and One Nights Week 12 11/12 Unit 2 Exam: Medieval Literature Assignment: Journal #9 Don Quixote Part 1 ( ) In your reading of Don Quixote focus on why, despite being reminded constantly by the narrator that Don Quixote is insane, this odd sort of hero has captured our imagination and sympathy for centuries? Unit 3: The Renaissance (Volume C) Week 13 11/19 Introduction to The Renaissance Discuss Don Quixote Part 1 Assignment: Journal 10 Don Quixote: From Part II ( ) Focus comment on the style of Don Quixote what makes it seem so modern? Week 14 11/26 Thanksgiving Week 15 Discuss Don Quixote Journal #10 Week 16 12/9 Unit Exam #3: Don Quixote and The Renaissance