UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
COURSE: HE217, Western Literature I, Section 1011
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Michael P. Parker (mparker@usna.edu)
Home phone: (410) 263-5680
Office: Room 209 Sampson - (410) 293-6211
OFFICE HOURS: TThF236; W23456. Please use the sign-up sheet outside my office.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
To introduce the student to the literature of classical antiquity, the European Middle Ages, and
the early Renaissance;
To examine the ways in which the diverse strains of classical, Judaic, and northern cultures each
contributed to the synthesis that we term “western civilization”;
To develop techniques of research and criticism that can be applied to the literature of any
period; and
To hone the student’s writing ability, helping each member of the class to refine a clear yet
distinctive style.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Three short (5- to 6-page) papers
A longer paper (10-12 pages) OR a weekly journal on the readings
One oral presentation
A final examination
COURSE POLICIES:
1. Grades and Grading:
Short papers
45%
Longer paper/journal 25%
Oral presentation
15%
Final examination
TOTAL
15%
____
100%
I reserve the right to raise or lower the final grade by one letter on the basis of class participation.
2. Plagiarism and Collaboration:
All work submitted should be the student’s own. For a definition of plagiarism and examples of
what constitutes it, consult Andrea Lunsford, The Everyday Writer, 2nd ed., pp. 109-22.
Students should not collaborate on assignments unless I specifically authorize them to do so.
3. Late Papers:
Professionals submit their work on time. If, for some unavoidable reason, you do not have your
paper on the given day, I expect you to tell me about it BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE
CLASSROOM and arrange to submit it promptly. If you fail to inform me that you have not
submitted your paper or if you fail to meet a rescheduled deadline, I will deduct at least ten
points from your grade.
4. Extra Instruction:
Extra instruction is available as needed or as requested. All students should sign up for an
introductory appointment with me no later than Friday, 10 September.
5. Key to Numerical Grading Systems:
100 - 90 = A
89 - 80 = B
79 - 70 = C
69 - 60 = D
59 - 0 = F
4 = cool
3
2
1
0 = cold
(This system used on journals and oral
presentations)
Students must be thoroughly prepared for class, i.e., they must have read the assignment
carefully and have the proper books with them. Failure to do so will result in a lower grade for
the course. Students must complete all written and oral assignments to earn a passing final
grade.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
3
HE217, Western Literature I, Section 1011
Mr. Parker
Texts
Beowulf, trans. Seamus Heaney
Dante, The Divine Comedy: The Inferno, trans. Mark Musa
Homer, The Odyssey, trans. Robert Fagles
Machiavelli, Niccolò, The Prince, trans. George Bull
The New Jerusalem Bible
Plautus, The Pot of Gold and Other Plays, trans. E. F. Watling
Plutarch, Makers of Rome, trans. Ian Scott-Kilvert
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Patience, trans. Marie Borroff
Sophocles, The Three Theban Plays, trans. Robert Fagles
Virgil, The Aeneid, trans. Robert Fitzgerald
Recitation Schedule
T 24 Aug
Introduction to course
Th 26 Aug
Homer, The Odyssey, Books I-V, 65-167
T 31 Aug
Homer, The Odyssey, Books VI-X, pp. 168-248
Th
2 Sep
Homer, The Odyssey, Books XI-XV, pp. 249-337
T
7 Sep
Homer, The Odyssey, Books XVI-XX, pp. 338-423
Th 9 Sep
Homer, The Odyssey, Books XXI-XXIV, pp. 424-85; Translator’s Postscript, pp.
489-96
T
Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, pp. 255-388
14 Sep
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Th 16 Sep
Sophocles, Antigone, pp. 35-128
T
Plautus, The Brothers Menaechmus, pp. 97-146; The Swaggering Soldier, pp.
147-212
21 Sep
Th 23 Sep
Plautus, The Swaggering Soldier; Pseudolus, pp. 213-68
T
Plutarch, Coriolanus, pp. 15-52; Fabius Maximus, pp. 53-83
28 Sep
Th 30 Sep
Plutarch, Cato the Elder, pp. 119-51; Tiberius Gracchus, pp. 153-74; Gaius
Gracchus, pp. 175-93
T
Virgil, The Aeneid, Books I-III, pp. 1-91; Postscript, pp. 403-17
5 Oct
Th 7 Oct
Virgil, The Aeneid, Books IV-VI, pp. 93-192
T
Virgil, The Aeneid, Books VII-IX, pp. 193-289
12 Oct
Th 14 Oct
Virgil, The Aeneid, Books X-XII, pp. 291-402
T
The New Jerusalem Bible, Genesis, pp. 4-50
19 Oct
Th 21 Oct
The New Jerusalem Bible, I Samuel, pp. 252-82
T
The New Jerusalem Bible, Mark, pp. 1183-1204
26 Oct
Th 28 Oct
The New Jerusalem Bible, Acts of the Apostles, pp. 1273-1307
T
Beowulf, pp. 1-113
2 Nov
Th 4 Nov
Beowulf, pp. 113-213
T
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 1-74
9 Nov
Th 11 Nov
Veterans’ Day – HOLIDAY
5
T 16 Nov
Pearl, pp. 111-61
Th 18 Nov
Dante, Inferno, Cantos 1-8, pp. 67-146
T
Dante, Inferno, Cantos 9-17, pp. 147-230
23 Nov
Th 25 Nov
Thanksgiving Day -- HOLIDAY
T 30 Nov
Dante, Inferno, Cantos 18-25, pp. 231-304
Th 2 Dec
Dante, Inferno, Cantos 26-34, pp. 305-87
T
Machiavelli, The Prince, pp. 1-85
7 Dec
Th 9 Dec
Wrap-up
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF PAPER DUE DATES:
Thursday, 16 September
Thursday, 7 October
Thursday, 4 November
Tuesday, 23 November (Long Paper)
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