Course:
Biblical Backgrounds of English Literature (English 385)
Instructor:
Dr. Brian Blackley, blackley@ncsu.edu
Office & Hrs: G105B Tompkins: 5-0474, MWF 7:15-8, 10-11, and by appointment
Texts: Bible (many online versions available)
Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Signet Classics, 2005. 978-0451529688 $3.25
Marlowe, Christopher. Doctor Faustus. Signet, 2010. 978-0451531612 $5.95
Milton, John. Paradise Lost and Other Poems. Signet, 2011. 978-0451531834 $7.95
O’Connor, Flannery. Complete Stories. Farrar, Straus, Giroux 1971. 978-0374515362 $11.25
Steinbeck, John. East of Eden. Penguin, 1992. 978-0140186390 $11.50
Purpose: English 385 attempts to examine the influences of the Bible on major English and American
writers. Its emphasis is historic; we will acknowledge that the Bible has been read differently by
different people in our time and over centuries. Recognition of different interpretive modes and the
religious perspectives that they produce is essential to our study.
This course fulfills a GER requirement for Humanities - Literature
Objectives: Each course within the literature requirement of the General Education Requirements in the
Humanities provides instruction and guidance that help students to: 1. Understand and engage in the
human experience through the interpretation of literature; and 2. Become aware of the act of
interpretation itself as a critical form of knowing in the study of literature; and 3. Make scholarly
arguments about literature using reasons and ways of supporting those reasons that are appropriate to the
field of study.
By the end of this course, students will be able to 1. Compose an essay explaining the
significance and meaning of biblical allusions in modern short fiction 2. Identify and analyze characters,
ideas, and predominant themes drawn from biblical sources within the works considered, 3. Recognize
literary quotations by text, speaker, and context, and 4) interpret those quotations in their own words.
SCHEDULE: Like many syllabi, this list is tentative and subject to change on short notice.
Jan 7-23
Geoffrey Chaucer: From The Canterbury Tales: "The General Prologue"
"The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale."
Jan 25-Feb 8 Christopher Marlowe: Doctor Faustus
Jan 28
Genesis chapter summaries due
Feb 11-27
John Milton: From Paradise Lost: Books I, III, and IX
Mar 1
MIDTERM
Mar 11-Apr 1 Flannery O’Connor: “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” “Good Country People”
“Revelation”
Mar 18
Exodus chapter summaries due
April 12
ESSAY on Flannery O’Connor short story due
Apr 3-26
John Steinbeck: East of Eden
May 8
FINAL EXAM
Quizzes: Coursework will include occasional announced quizzes or “pop” quizzes. Pop quizzes
missed for verified excuses cannot be made up; the other quizzes will be counted more heavily. All other
work missed for excused absences will be afforded a make-up opportunity. I expect to offer seven such
grades and average the best five for the final quiz average. Please note that missing classes for any reason
will have an inevitable detrimental effect on grades.
Eng 385 (MWF 11:20) Spring 2013 2/12/2016
Paper: will cover one of the short stories from the collection by Flannery O’Connor, analyzing
its biblical background and how knowledge of that background affects or contributes to the meaning of
the story. Papers not conforming to the assignment will not be accepted. Papers must be typed
according to MLA format— view http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22CPQoLE4U0 or see me with
questions. An assignment sheet with complete expectations for the paper is forthcoming.
Presentations: The presentation will require students to choose one of Jesus’ parables and
explicate it as hearers would understand it in the first century and as we should in the 20 th. There will be
an assignment sheet provided so that you can choose a date and parable for presenting. It should last five
to ten minutes (minimum and maximum), which is the rough equivalent of reading three to five typed
pages (double spaced). More complete details on the presentation requirements will be discussed in
class, and you are encouraged to visit with me to discuss your ideas beforehand.
Summaries: Students will do one or two sentence summaries of each chapter of the books of
Genesis and Exodus, submitted by schedule. This is a relatively simple task, but highly useful and
informative, especially for students not closely familiar with the Bible. However, since there are 50
chapters in the book of Genesis and 40 in Exodus, it is time-consuming. Sample summaries and a full
explanation of grading on this assignment will be given in class.
Policies: All assignments must be submitted on schedule. Make-ups are accepted only in the
event of verified excused absences, such as illness of the student, the death of a family member, or
University-sanctioned travel. I am far more understanding of student difficulties when I receive advance
notice. If you will miss class or not have your work on time, your best bet is to send me a message
explaining why before classtime. Unexcused late work received after the class in which it is due will be
penalized. The final exam will be comprehensive.
I will use the university’s class emailing system to communicate with you on a regular basis.
Important notices about assignments may be sent to you via email. That means failure to list the email
address you use regularly, or failing to check your email daily may mean you will miss correspondence
and jeopardize your grade. “I didn’t get your email” will not be an accepted excuse.
A few students prefer to take notes with laptops in the classroom. I find this an inadvisable
distraction in most cases, but if you use a laptop in the classroom you must sit at the back of the room so
that the flickering screen does not distract other students.
Academic Integrity: The penalty for plagiarism or cheating is a failing grade and possibly more
severe punishment by University administrators. You are responsible for knowing what plagiarism is and
accountable for violations of academic integrity. Anytime you have questions about incorporating
sources into your work, please ask me. See also http://policies.ncsu.edu/policy/pol-11-35-01 for complete
information about student conduct. By your signature or typed name on each graded effort, I will assume
your compliance with the university Honor Pledge: "I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid
on this test or assignment."
Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities.
In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services
for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC
State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students
with Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.01)
ENG 385 (MWF 11:20) Spring 2013 2/12/2016
Presentation
Summaries: Genesis
Exodus
Midterm
Paper
Quizzes
Final Exam
10%
5%
5%
20%
15%
15%
30%
Varies by choice
Monday
Monday
Friday
Friday
varies
Wednesday
Jan 28
Mar 18
Mar 1
Apr 12
as assigned
May 8, 8:00 a.m.