Required Texts:
Discoveries: Fifty Stories of the Quest , H. Schechter, J.G. Semeiks
Sound and Sense: Introduction to Poetry , T. Arp, G. Johnson,
Thompson/Wadsworth, eleventh edition
The Temple of Gold , Goldman, W.
Winesburg, Ohio , Anderson, S.
I. Objectives
To guide students to an informed appreciation of fiction and poetry;
To have students read more analytically through the study archetypal patterns in storytelling and poetic language and prosody;
To familiarize students with the tools of the fiction writer and poet;
To have students reach a greater self-awareness through the study of fictional heroes, and to have students see their career endeavors as heroic quests;
II. Topics
Fictional elements of character, plot, setting, point-of-view, mood, tone, theme ; literary devices of foreshadowing, symbolism, imagery, allusion, and irony;
Archetypal patterns in literature: quest, rite of passage, tragedy of the loss of innocence, the sacrificial hero, horror;
Elements of poetry: imagery, symbolism, tone, figurative language, musical language, rhythm and meter, fixed forms .
III. Methodology
Lectures, discussions, student presentations, group work, guide sheets, film
IV. Writing Tasks
Each student will prepare three (3) papers: two (2) on a mythological analysis of a single story/novel; a third on poetry. Each student should be prepared to present his/her paper orally . One (1) - page story/poetry analysis journals summarizing observations and reactions to each story and poem are due the first class session of each week. Please keep it to one page. Anything beyond one page will not be read. (Use size ten font if necessary, and follow the “Reading Analysis Journal” format attached.) The poetry paper format is also attached.
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IMPORTANT: print two (2) copies of each paper the day your paper is due.
V. Class Procedure
You should expect a quiz on your readings each Monday.
A “0” will be given if you are illegally absent. Students with perfect attendance will be allowed to drop the lowest quiz grade.
Of course, make sure you come to class prepared and a desire to participate.
Evaluation: Your grade will be determined by the following:
30%- Literary Analysis papers + paper #3
30%- Final exam on poetry + paper #2
& mid-term exam
20%- Reading quizzes
(including summer reading)
10%- Journal analyses
10%- Class participation
Those who significantly contribute to class discussions will have points added to their final grade.
VI. General Requirements
1.
All work must be typed in Times New Roman twelve-size font, doublespaced, and stapled.
Remember to save often, and back-up all work on disk.
See the attached sheet for the mythological analyses format for (papers one & two) and the poetry analysis (paper #3).
2.
All work must be submitted on time. No late work will be accepted.
E-mail assignments by class time Monday if you are going to miss class.
3.
Attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences will result in a zero being issued for all work assigned that day.
4.
Be on-time. If you must report late, you must have a pass. If you do not have a pass, the tardiness will adversely affect your class participation grade.
5.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated . If you plagiarize a paper, you will receive an
F for that paper and possibly the course.
6.
We will devote a great deal of class time discussing the readings and relevant issues. Class participation is a significant part of your grade. Please remember to be courteous at all times.
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Week 1
Assignment Schedule
9/5: Course overview; summer reading exam Thursday-Friday
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
9/10: Introductory lecture
Discoveries pp. 3-24;
“The Island at Noon”; “The Story of an Hour”
9/17: pp. 95-98; “He & I”; “Yellow Woman”
9/24: pp. 187-190; “Babylon Revisited”; “Through the Tunnel”
Week 5 10/1: pp.316-319; “The Poet”; “The Conversion of the Jews”
Week 6 10/8: pp. 404-407; “Araby”; “The Middle Drawer”
Week 7: 10/15: pp. 499-501; “The Horse-Dealer’s Daughter”; “Twin Beds
in Rome”
Week 8: 10/22: Winesburg, Ohio : the study of novel
Week 9: 10/29: The Temple of Gold : paper two (2) for all; novel study
concludes
Week 10: 11/5: Exam on fiction (Mid-term exam)
Second quarter poetry assignments will be determined and distributed .
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