ENGL 2230 NOVEL INTO FILM
Spring Semester, 2013
Class meets: Sundays, 1:00-4:30PM
Classroom: 318, Whitby Hall
Professor Geri Chavis
Office: 113 Whitby Hall
Office Hours: Tues., 3:15-4:15PM;
Th., 8:45-9:45AM;
and by appointment
Ext. 6524 ; P.O. # 4049
e-mail: ggchavis@stkate.edu
SYLLABUS:
Course Description:
This is a hybrid course, one that consists of eight (8) face to face on Sunday afternoons and
six (6) on-line classes. The course also involves a preparation period prior to our first class
and a take-home final exam due during finals week. In this course, we will focus on the
defining features of both novels and films; the novel-reading and film-viewing experiences;
and the relationship between select novels of various types and the award-winning film
adaptations of these works. Our online site is D2L accessed through Kateway. It will be
open and available to you on January 8th, 2013.
Course Goals:
1- Become familiar with major elements of the two genres of novel and film
2- Recognize the power, possibilities and limits of the two genres
3- Become aware of the obvious and subtle similarities and differences between the novel in
its original written form and the film adaptation(s) of that novel
4- Appreciate the cultural dimensions surrounding the writing and reading of novels and the
making and viewing of films based on those novels
5- Become more skilled/critically aware readers of novels and viewers of films.
6- Improve writing and speaking skills
Required Texts (In order of assignment:
Assorted Hand-Outs on Novel and Film Study
Novels: Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice. (1813) Dover Thrift Edition
Alice Walker. The Color Purple (1982). Pocket Books/ Washington Square Press
Amy Tan.The Joy Luck Club (1989).Ivy Books/ Ballantine Books
Joanne Harris. Chocolat (1999).Penguin Books.
Films: “Pride and Prejudice” (2006) with Kieira Knightley & Matthew Macfayden;
Screenplay: Deborah Moggach; Director: Joe Wright. Universal Studios
“The Color Purple” (1985) with Whoopie Goldberg; Screenplay: Menno
Meyjes; Producer-Director: Steven Spielberg; Warner Brothers.
“The Joy Luck Club” (1993) with Ming-Na Wen; Screenplay: Amy Tan &
Ronald Bass; Producers: Wayne Wang, Amy Tan, Ronald Bass & Patrick
Markey; Director: Wayne Wang; Hollywood Pictures
“Chocolat” (2000) with Juliette Binoch, Afred Molina & Johnny Depp; Screenplay:
Robert Nelson Jacobs; Director: Lasse Hallstrom; Miramax Films
Course Requirements and Grades:
In classes, there will be much (I hope lively) discussion and a variety of activities
including debates and group work. Written assignments include a variety of written
reflections and a take-home final exam.
During the semester, you are expected to record, on your own, your perceptions and
opinions on elements of the novels and films, being both specific and reflective.
It is essential for you to keep detailed notes on the film versions, since they are as much
texts for this course as the novels. These films will be on reserve at the library
circulation desk, or you may choose to access them on your own, in order to review
them at your convenience.
Written Reflections of Varying Types:
1) Two prepared as homework, printed in hard copy form and handed in during class.
(Please word-process these, using 11 or 12 font and 1 ½ line spacing) = 15%
2) Two written in-class
= 10%
3) Five completed online on the D2L Discussion Board
= 30%
The criteria for evaluating written work is listed below
Take-home Final Exam:
= 25%
Classwork: (Includes Attendance at both face-to-face and online classes, Quality of
Participation in Discussions/Activities and Keeping up with Assignments) = 20%
Note that the quality of your on-line reaction posts to other students will
constitute part of the classwork grade. In paragraph form, these should involve welldeveloped insights and opinions in reaction to others’ material.
(Your presence in every class is an ESSENTIAL aspect of this course’s effectiveness
both for you and for others. Please note that more than two absences will significantly
lower your grade. Also, it is very important for you to be on time for classes. Three
latenesses will count as one absence.)
Due dates for all writing and reading assignments are clearly marked on the syllabus.
Since your Written Reflections will often become part of our class discussions, it is
VERY IMPORTANT to submit them on the due date. While I will accept late Written
Reflections (within one week from the due date), the late penalty will be one full letter
grade. For all written work in this class, it is essential to be aware of and follow the
College’s “Academic Integrity Policy” If you have questions regarding what constitutes
plagiarism, consult Geri Chavis.
Criteria for Evaluating Written Work:
1) Focus (all parts of your written responses are directly relevant to the specific
question being asked)
2) Development (response is carefully thought out, and general statements are
supported with well-chosen details and quotes from the novels and films)
3) Clarity (your meaning is clearly conveyed in grammatical sentences)
4) Coherence and Organization (your paragraphs and sentences are linked and
follow one another in a logical way)
Prep for Feb. 10th class: Access (from our D2L course site, print out and bring to our
Feb. 10th class the following important course materials:
1) Course Syllabus (available on Kateway syllabus site and also on D2L)
2) Bluestone’s and McDougals excerpts on transforming novels into films
3) Glossary of Literary Terms
4) Glossary of Film Terms
5) Question for Film Viewing
For our Feb. 10th class: Read the entire course syllabus carefully, the Bluestone and the
McDougal novel into film excerpts and Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice. Also
write Written Reflection #1 (see question below) to be handed in on February 10 th
during our opening class.
February 10th –Introduction to the Novel Genre, Discussion of Novels into Film
Transformation Process and Discussion of Austen’s world and Pride and Prejudice.
Written Reflection #1 due today: In a two-page word-processed response with an
introduction, body and conclusion, elaborate on how Pride and Prejudice is a fitting title
for this novel. In your opening paragraph, create a statement that forms the backbone of
your response and helps organize it – such as: Austen chose wisely when she named
this novel Pride and Prejudice. This is an apt title for three major reasons. Also, take
note of the criteria for a successful writing assignment, which is on this syllabus.
February 17th – Online Class: Discussion continuing your exploration of Pride and
Prejudice and anticipating viewing the film version during our next class: No later than
February 17th, Post the following two-part Written Reflection in the Discussion Board of
D2L: Indicate the features or aspects of Austen’s novel that you would absolutely want
to preserve in a film version and explain the reason for your choices. In the second part
of your response, indicate what features could easily be eliminated, once again
explaining your reasons. (Answer in approximately one page)
No later than February 20th, respond to the posts of two of your fellow students.
I will acknowledge everyone’s responses online.
February 24th – View in class the 2006 Kiera Knightley film version of Pride and
Prejudice and discuss the transformation and filmmaker decisions in the context of your
earlier on-line responses. View a clip from the 1940 version and the Collin Firth version
of P&P and discuss.
Online Class: Post by February 27th - Online Discussion of Characterization in the
novel and film version of Pride and Prejudice- each student will post a Written Reflection
(of approximately 2 pages on one individual character in Austen’s novel as well as
his/her portrayal in the Kieira Knightley film version, using the Characterization grid
handed out during our previous class. Characters include: Elizabeth Bennet, Jane
Bennet, Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet, Mary Bennet, Lydia Bennet, George Wickham,
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Charles Bingley, Caroline Bingley, Mr. Collins, Charlotte Lucas, Lady
Catherine deBourgh, and Mrs. Gardiner. Your specific character will be randomly
assigned during our February 24th class.
By March 2nd , after reading all Written Reflections of other students, you will post a
statement of two important discoveries you have made from reading others’ posts.
I will acknowledge everyone’s responses online.
March 10th – Introduction to Letter (Epistolary) Novel and 19th and 20th Century
Novel Types: Coming of Age (Bildungsroman), Social Protest, and Feminist.
Read Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple for today’s class, and take notes reflecting
upon how the world of this novel differs from that of the novel Pride and Prejudice. As
you think about this issue, take into account the settings, time period, race, class and
basic preoccupations of the characters, mood/climate of the novels, and their differing
narrative modes. Also bring with you one significant question that Walker’s novel raises
for you. There will be an in-class writing involving a creative link between the novels,
Pride and Prejudice and The Color Purple. Bring both novels to class today.
Online Class: Post by March 15th –In an Online Written Reflection, begin with a quote
from the novel that you consider particularly significant and explain how the words in
this quote relate to the novel as a whole, taking into account either major characters,
relationships, themes, symbols and/or events. You will be required to read one
another’s posts and share your reactions to these during class on March 24th.
From March 17th – 22nd : Online Debate Team Preparation will take place in two
separate team discussions, for a debate during our next face to face class on March
24th: The debate will be on The Depiction of African American Males in The Color
Purple novel: Strongly Negative vs. Even-handed.
March 24th – Continue Discussion of The Color Purple in class today. Debate in Class
and Discussion of Chosen Quotes. We will also discuss our expectations regarding the
film version of The Color Purple and view the interview with Steven Spielberg and Alice
Walker.
Spring Break: March 25th – April 1st : View the Steven Spielberg film version of The
Color Purple and prepare the following Written Reflection to be handed in at our next
face-to-face class on April 7th: Choose a scene from the novel version of The Color
Purple and after viewing the equivalent or matching scene from the film version,
compare and contrast the two. In your response, focus on key differences and
similarities, taking into account the specific way in which Walker’s words capture this
scene in the novel and the specific ways the filmmakers present this scene through their
content choices and the visual and sound effects they include.
April 7th – Written Reflection described above due today. Read for today: Amy Tam’s
novel, Joy Luck Club, Parts I & II and be prepared to discuss these sections in class
today. Focus in class on the Episodic nature of this novel and its structure and
characters.
Online Class: Finish reading The Joy Luck Club and post in four separate groups. Post
between April 15-19th : Online Group Discussions on each of the four major motherdaughter relationships in Tan’s novel Joy Luck Club. Specific questions to address will
be posted online. I will view your discussions but will not respond.
April 21st – Continue Discussion of the novel, Joy Luck Club. Each student will bring a
summary of her group’s online discoveries regarding her particular mother-daughter
dyad in Tan’s novel and will hand these in after today’s group work. In class, each
student will represent her mother-daughter dyad in a group in which all four dyads will
be discussed, in order to generate parallels and differences between these four pairings
and the stories involving them and also to gain a better sense of what unifies this novel.
In-Class Writing as Prep for upcoming viewing of the film version of Joy Luck Club.
Online Class: View, on your own, the film version of Joy Luck Club, and by April 30th,
post, on the D2L Discussion Board, your Written Reflection in response to the following
question: In what specific ways did the film version address and/or overcome your
anticipated challenges regarding transforming this novel into a mainstream Hollywood
film. (Length: Approximately 1-1 /2 pages)
By May 3rd, post your reaction/insights in relation to at least two classmates’ answers to
the above question.
May 5th – View in class: film version of Chocolat before reading the novel and discuss
the artistry and effectiveness of this film, along with its major characters/actors, themes,
and symbols. In Class Free Writing Activity on the film. These will not be collected but
will be used for today’s discussion.
If time, view extra material on location selection and making of the film.
Take-Home Final Exams will be distributed today.
Online Class: After our May 5th class, read Joanne Harris’ novel, Chocolat.
As you read this novel, be aware of the surprises you experience and the
differences you notice between the novel and film versions.
By May 17th, post on the D2L Discussion Board the following Written Reflection:
Elaborate on any one aspect of the novel that surprised or intrigued you after having
seen the film version on May 5th (Length: Approximately 1 page). Read everyone
else’s posts and be prepared to discuss your reactions to these posts at our next class.
May 19th – Discuss Harris’ novel, Chocolat. In class today and refer to film as well.
A Celebratory Chocolate Party today.
May 20th -24th - Final Exam Time Period: Complete Take-Home Final Exams.
Take Home Final Exam Responses due absolutely no later than May 24th at 5:00PM.
Please e-mail to ggchavis@stkate.edu your responses in a word document with your
last name and final exam as the title of your document. Your graded exams will be sent
to you via e-mail.