Literature 331-452: World Literature II
Europe; Asia; Africa and the Middle East
Spring 2008
Instructor
Doris Z. Fleischer, Ph.D.
E-mail address: doris.fleischer@njit.edu
Office Phone: 973/596-5607
Course Description
This course offers students an opportunity to enhance their understanding of
contemporary global interactions by exploring a diverse array of culturally expressive
artifacts---novels, short stories, poems, and a play--grouped geographically by region.
Course readings represent the following regions: Europe, Asia, and Africa and the Middle
East. A second course, World Literature I, Literature 330, covers the literature of North
America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Australia and Oceania. World Literature
I is not a prerequisite for World Literature II.
Prerequisites
The Writing, Speaking, and Thinking Curriculum: Three credits of English are required.
The Basic Social Science Curriculum: Six credits of basic social science are
recommended.
The Cultural History Curriculum: Six credits of cultural history are required.
TEXTS:
Anthology:
Norman A. Spenser and Shirley Geok-Lin Lim. One World of Literature. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 1993.
Novels:
Graham Greene. The End of the Affair. 1951. New York: Penguin, 1999.
Chinua Achebe. Things Fall Apart. 1959. New York: Doubleday, 1994.
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Handbook: Sylvan Barnet. A Short Guide to Writing About Literature. 10th ed. New
York: Longman, 2006,
FILMS (TO RENT)
The End of the Affair (1999)
Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
LECTURES ARE AVAILABLE ON CD ROM AND STREAMING VIDEO
CD ROM and STREAMING VIDEOS
Norbert Elliot. Literature 331. Newark: NJIT, 2001. The course CD must be ordered from
Have Inc: http://www.haveinc.com/mall/store1/NJITFAQ.htm (HAVE, Inc., Fulfillment
Department, 350 Power Ave, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-828-2000 x 259,
fulfill@haveinc.com
Streaming videos of the lectures can be found at:
http://cpe.njit.edu/dlvideos/LIT%20330/index.html
PORTFOLIO
Copies of all assignments will be kept by each student in a Portfolio that should be
received in hard copy by the instructor by May 12. (That means that if students are
mailing them overnight, they should mail them no later than May 10.)This Portfolio will
reflect the overall quality of student work. The Portfolio should be complete through May
7 and should include all of your Postings (and your responses to other student postings),
essays returned to students with my comments and corrections, as well as rewrites of
these essays. Grades of re-written Essays will be re-considered. The Portfolio must be
sent to me in hard copy by Federal Express or Express Mail (so that the students can
retain a Tracking Number), at 4085 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11235. MAKE
SURE THAT YOU INDICATE THAT NO SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR
DELIVERY. DO NOT SEND THE PORTFOLIO TO NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY.
NOTICES:
1.
ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE AN ACCOUNT FOR BOTH WEBCT AND
HIGHLANDER PIPELINE IN ORDER TO BE PROPERLY REGISTERED
FOR THIS COURSE. STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
MESSAGES SENT TO THEM THROUGH BOTH WEBCT AND PIPELINE.
PLEASE CHECK THEM REGULARLY.
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2.
STUDENTS SHOULD SECURE ALL OF THE REQUIRED TEXTS AND CD
ROMS BEFORE THE START OF THE SUMMER SEMESTER. THE
BOOKSTORE WILL NOT HAVE BOOKS AVAILABLE AFTER THE
OPENING OF THE SEMESTER.
3.
IF STUDENTS HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, THEY SHOULD NOT
HESITATE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME BY WEBCT EMAIL,
TELEPHONE (OFFICE: 973-596-5607) OR ON CAMPUS APPOINTMENT
(313 CULLIMORE).
4. REQUIRED RESPONSES TO LECTURES, AS WELL AS RESPONSES TO
AT LEQST TWO OTHER STUDENT COMMENTS SHOULD BE POSTED
ON THE WEBCT BULLETIN BOARD.AT LEAST WEEKLY.
5. THREE REQUIRED ESSAYS, AS WELL AS THE FINAL REQUIREMENT,
SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE WEBCT ASSIGNMENT TOOL.
6.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE COURSE AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL BE
EMAILED TO EACH STUDENT INDIVIDUALLY PRIOR TO THE START
OF THE COURSE, AND RETURN IT ME BY WEBCT EMAIL.
ASSIGNMENTS
There are three types of assignments in the course:
1. A) Responses to Lectures 1-20 and the accompanying readings, worth 2 points each
(total: 40 pts.) Approximately 200 words for each response. Indicate the focus of the
Lectures and the themes of the readings and viewings. (In addition, be responsive to
postings by at least two other students.)
B) Three Essays, worth 14 points each (total: 42 pts.), approximately 1200 words
for each essay, with documentation and Works Cited list following MLA specifications.
Stress analysis rather than merely telling the plot. In addition, briefly integrate references
to at least two related and reliable sources other than the assigned readings.
C) One Final Requirement worth 18 points, approximately 1700 words.
Description of this requirement to be announced.
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2. Grades will be raised or lowered significantly based on the quality and completeness
of the Portfolio.
3. The final grade will be based on your cumulative effort in the course, that is, your
grade will be based on your improvement, not solely on a sum of grades.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
1) ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST INCLUDE THE ASSIGNMENT NUMBER AND,
WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE LECTURE NUMBER.
2) PLEASE NOTE THAT POSTINGS AND ESSAYS ARE DUE BY MIDNIGHT ON
THE DATES LISTED BELOW. ALTHOUGH LATE SUBMISSIONS MAY BE
ACCEPTED IF THE EXPLANATION FOR THE LATENESS WARRANTS SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION, I CANNOT GUARANTEE PROMPT RETURN OF SUCH LATE
SUBMISSIONS WITH MY COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS.
Part 1:
Literature in a Global Context
View: CD Lecture 1: An Introduction to World Literature.
Read: Barnet, Chapter 1 , "What is Literature?" Barnet, Chapter 7, "What is
Interpretation?" Barnet, Chapter 8, "What is Evaluation?" Barnet, Chapter 14, "Style and
Format." Barnet, Chapter 15, "Writing a Research Paper." Lim and Spenser,
"Documentation," pp.1117-1123. Lim and Spenser, "A Note on Translation," pp.11111112.
Begin reading Graham Greene, The End of the Affair.
ASSIGNMENT 1: Response to CD Lecture 1 and related reading (2 pts)
Part 2: The Literature of Europe
View: CD Lecture 2: Writing About World Literature.
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View: CD Lecture 3: The Literature of Europe.
Read Lim and Spencer, “Introduction to Europe,” pp.478-488.)
Read Barnet, Chapter 2, "The Writer as Reader: Reading and Responding." Barnet,
Chapter 3, "The Reader as Writer: Drafting and Writing." Barnet, Chapter 4, "Two Forms
of Criticism: Explication and Analysis." Barnet, Chapter 9, "Writing about Literature: An
Overview." Barnet, Chapter 10, "Writing About Fiction."
Read Lim and Spenser, "A Note on Fiction." pp,1099-1102. D. H. Lawrence, "The Horse
Dealer's Daughter." Virginia Woolf, "The Mark on the Wall." James Joyce, "Araby."
Franz Kafka, "A Hunger Artist." Albert Camus, "The Guest."
Continue reading Graham Greene, The End of the Affair.
Write: Assignment 2 (a): Response to CD Lecture 2 and related readings (2 pts)
Assignments 1 and 2(a)—due Saturday January 26
-------------------------------
Write: Assignment 2 (b): Response to CD Lecture 3 and related readings (2 pts)
View: CD Lecture 4: European Poetry.
Write: Assignment 3: Response to CD Lecture 4 and related viewing and readings (2 pts)
Assignments 2 (b) and 3—Due Friday, February 1
------------------------------Read: Barnet, Chapter 12, "Writing About Poetry."
Read: Lim and Spenser, "A Note on Poetry,." pp. 1103-1106. W. H. Auden, "The
Unknown Citizen" and "Musee de Beaux Arts." William Butler Yeats, "Easter, 1916."
Seamus Heaney," Digging." Complete Graham Greene, The End of the Affair.
View the film, The End of the Affair. Read Barnet, Chapter 10, "Writing about Film,"
182-184
View CD Lecture 5: Russian Fiction.
Read: Isaac Babel, "My First Goose." Tatyana Tolstaya, "Fire and Dust."
Write: Assignment 4: Response to CD Lecture 5 and related readings (2 pts)
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View CD Lecture 6: Eastern European Fiction--A Fictitious Family.
Read: Milan Kundera, "Edward and God."
Write: Assignment 5: Response to CD Lecture 6 and related readings (2 pts)
Assignments 4 and 5—Due Friday February 8
--------------------------------View CD Lecture 7: Friedrich Durrenmatt.
Read: Barnet, Chapter 10, "Writing about Drama." Lim and Spenser, "A Note on
Drama." pp. 1107-1109, Friedrich Durrenmatt, The Visit.
Write: Assignment 6: Response to CD Lecture 7 and related readings (2 pts)
View CD Lecture 8: Italo Calvino.
Read: Italo Calvino, "The Adventure of a Reader."
Write: Assignment 7: Response to CD Lecture 8 and related readings (2 pts)
Assignments 6 and 7—Due Friday, February 15
------------------------------Assignment 8--Essay: The Literature of Europe (14 points) Due Friday February 22
Write a well-organized documented Essay with a clear thesis, as well as a beginning,
middle, and end, responding to the following topic.
TOPIC: How do the works assigned in “Part Two: The Literature of Europe” reveal the
problematic nature of human relationships? You must refer to Greene’s novel The End of
the Affair and Durrenmatt’s play The Visit, Kundera’s “Edward and God”. as well as to
no fewer than five additional assigned works for this module. Also briefly integrate at
least two additional related and reliable sources, other than the assigned readings, to your
analysis. Be sure to document fully (paraphrases as well as direct quotes) and include a
Works Cited list, both following MLA specifications. Use reliable sources such as the
New York Times, Google Scholar, and the Modern Language Association, not Wikopedia
(1200 WORDS). For help with research, contact the NJIT Librarian:
<davida.scharf@njit.edu>
-------------------------------------
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Part 3: The Literature of Asia
View CD Lecture 9: An Introduction to Asia.
Read Lim and Spencer, pp. 192-200
View film, "Raise the Red Lantern."
Write: Assignment 9: Response to CD Lecture 9 and related viewing (2 pts)
View CD Lecture 10: Lu Xun.
Read: Lu Xun, "My Old Home," "A Small Incident."
Write: Assignment 10: Response to CD Lecture 10 and related readings (2 pts)
Assignments 9 and 10—Due Friday, February 29
------------------------------View: CD Lecture 11: Ding Ling.
Read: Ding Ling, "When I Was in Xia Village."
Write: Assignment 11: Response to CD Lecture 11 and related reading (2 pts)
View: CD Lecture 12: Yukio Mishima.
Read: Yukio Mishima, "Patriotism."
Write: Assignment 12: Response to CD Lecture 12 and related reading (2 pts)
Assignments 11 and 12—Due Friday March 7
------------------------------View: CD Lecture 13: Pramoedya Anata Toer.
Read: Pramoedya Anata Toer, "Inem."
Write: Assignment 13: Response to CD Lecture 13 and related reading (2pts)
View CD Lecture 14: Mashaweta Devi.
Read: Mashaweta Devi, "Breast-Giver."
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Write: Assignment 14: Response to CD Lecture 14 and related reading (2 pts)
Assignments 13 and 14—Due Monday, March 14
---------------------------------Assignment 15--Essay: The Literature of Asia (14 pts) --Due Saturday, March 29
Write a well-organized documented Essay with a clear thesis, as well as a beginning,
middle, and end, responding to the following topic.
TOPIC: How does the Literature of Asia serve as a critique of the conventions of Asian
society? Refer to all seven assigned readings for thios module, as well as to the film,
“Raise the Red Lantern.” Also briefly integrate at least two additional related and
reliable sources, other than the assigned readings, to your analysis. Be sure to document
fully (paraphrases as well as direct quotes) and include a Works Cited list, both following
MLA specifications. Use reliable sources such as the New York Times, Google Scholar,
and the Modern Language Association, not Wikopedia (1200 WORDS). For help with
research, contact NJIT Librarian davida.scharf@njit.edu
----------------------------------[
Part 4: The Literature of Africa and the Middle East
View: CD Lecture 15: An Introduction to Africa and the Middle East.
Read Lim and Spencer, “Introduction to Africa and the Middle East, pp. 2-14
Read: Begin Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart..
Write: Assignment 16: Response to CD Lecture 15 and related reading (2 pts)
View CD Lecture 16: Chinua Achebe.
Read: Complete Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart. Read Chinua Achebe, "Civil Peace.”
Write: Assignment 17: Response to CD Lecture 16 and related readings (2 pts)
Assignments 16 and 17—due Friday, April 4
------------------------View CD Lecture 17: A New Tradition--African and Arabic Literature.
Read Naguib Mahfouz, "The Happy Man."
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Write: Assignment 18: Response to CD Lecture 17 and related reading (2 pts)
View CD Lecture 18: Ngugi wa Thiong'o.
Read: Ngugi wa Thiong'o, "The Return."
Write: Assignment 19: Response to CD Lecture 18 and related reading (2 pts)
Assignments 18 and 19—Due Friday, April 11
-------------------------View CD Lecture 19: An Overview of Contemporary Israeli Literature.
Read Yehuda Amichai, "Jerusalem" and "Sort of an Apocalypse." Amos Oz, "Nomad
and “Viper."
Write: Assignment 20: Response to CD Lecture 19 and related reading (2 pts)
View CD Lecture 20: Course Conclusion.
Write: Assignment 21: Response to CD Lecture 20 (2 pts)
Assignments 20 and 21—Due Friday, April 18
--------------------------------Assignment 22: Essay on the Literature of Africa and the Middle East (14 points)-Due Friday April 25
Write a well-organized documented essay with a clear thesis, as well as a beginning,
middle, and end, responding to the following topic.
TOPIC: How do both the Literature of Africa and the Literature of the Middle East
reflect a clash of cultures? You must refer to all seven assigned readings for this module,
including Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart. Also briefly integrate at least two
additional related and reliable sources, other than the assigned readings, to your analysis.
Be sure to document fully (paraphrases as well as direct quotes) and include a Works
Cited list, both following MLA specifications. Use reliable sources such as the New York
Times, Google Scholar, and the Modern Language Association, not Wikopedia. (1,200
WORDS) . For help with research, contact NJIT Librarian davida.scharf@njit.edu
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Part 5: Putting it all Together
Write: Assignment 23: Final Requirement (18 pts)--To be announced—Due
Wednesday, May 7
PORTFOLIO: Copies of all assignments will be kept by each student in a Portfolio
received by the instructor in hard copy by May 12, 2008. (That means that if you are
mailing it for overnight delivery, it should be mailed by May 10.) This Portfolio will
reflect the overall quality of your work. The Portfolio should be complete through May 7
and should include all of your own Postings, all Essays returned to students with my
comments and corrections, as well as rewrites of all essays and a hard copy of the Final
Requirement. Grades of re-written Essays will be re-considered. The Portfolio must be
sent to me in hard copy by Federal Express or Express Mail (with student retention of
tracking numbers), at 4085 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11235. MAKE SURE
THAT YOU INDICATE THAT NO SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY.
DO NOT SEND THE PORTFOLIO TO NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY.
Additional information will be posted on WebCt Bulletin Board and/or sent by Pipeline.
Since students are responsible for all Bulletin Board Postings and Pipeline messages,
check these regularly.
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