The absolutely last final syllabus (as of April 13, 2011)
195:318/351:322 Literary Approaches to Sacred Texts Spring 2011
(Prof. Steven F. Walker) M/W 6th period (4:30-5:50 PM) Scott Hall 206
sfw@rci.rutgers.edu and walkersteven@hotmail.com
(office hours: Scott 239 Wed. 3:30-4:30 PM by appointment or after class)
1/19 Introduction: four modern writers(Sigmund Freud, D.H. Lawrence, C.G. Jung, Marcel
Proust) and two modern film directors (Peter Weir, Jean-Luc Godard) on sacred texts and
the problems of evil, apocalyptic visions, the dark side of God, and postmodern religion.
1/24+26 Sigmund Freud, *Moses and Monotheism
1/31+2/2 John of Patmos, *The Apocalypse (translated by Willis Barnstone)
2/7+9 D.H. Lawrence, *Apocalypse pp. 45-56, 59-129 and 141-9 only and C.G. Jung,
*Answer to Job pp. 73-99
2/14+16 Viewing and discussion of Peter Weir’s film The Last Wave PLEASE NOTE:
Wednesday’s class (2/16) will meet in 195 College Avenue
+ Mukurul sheet + Initiation/Transformation sheet
2/21+23 1st RPD + *The Book of Job (translated by Stephen Mitchell) + Borderline
personality Sheet + Scapegoat sheet
2/28 + 3/2 C.G. Jung *Answer To Job (trans. R.F.C. Hull), pp. 39-68 + 97-99 only
3/7 Job continued 3/9 *The Bhagavad Gita in the Mahabharata (trans. J.A.B. van
Buitenen), pp. 1-6, 17-18; 39-121 + 145-156 only + (online reserve) “Arjuna’s Eunuch
Problem and the Gita’s Epic Frame”
---spring break--3/21+23 *Bhagavad Gita continued
3/28+30 Jean-Luc Godard’s film Hail, Mary + Answer to Job 99-108
+ (online reserve) The Annunciation to the Virgin PLEASE NOTE: Wednesday’s class
(3/30) will meet in 195 College Avenue
4/4 class cancelled
nd
4/6 REVIEW + 2 RPD
4/11 Midterm Examination +13 Marcel Proust, *Time Regained (trans. Andreas Mayor
and Terence Kilmartin), pp. 238-336 only + (online reserve) the madeleine scene (“The
Cookie”) + article “The Name of the Madeleine” + Proust/Mass sheet
4/18 Proust continued 20 PLEASE NOTE: Wednesday’s class (4/20) will meet in 195
College Avenue Viewing/discussion of filmed Roman Catholic Mass in Latin
4/25 Proust discussion + bring in short quote from Proust readings 4/27 Conclusion
5/2 Review + Course Paper due (10 pages)
FINAL EXAMINATION: Friday May 6,
4-7PM (Scott 206)
Grading: attendance 10% (3 unexcused absences without penalty), midterm 25%,
paper and response papers 40%
final examination 35% Please buy starred *books at the Rutgers University Bookstore
Online reserve readings as indicated