Interpretation of Literature - 08G:001:022 (ENGL:1200:0022)
Fall 2010
Reading as Conspiracy: Text, Reader, World
Time and location:
MWF 10:30-11:20 in EPB 209
Instructor:
Ben Mauk (benjamin-mauk@uiowa.edu); Mailbox: 308 EPB
Office: 68 EPB. Office hours MF 11:30-1:00 and by appointment.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Literature: A Portable Anthology, 2nd edition, ed. Gardner, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 9780312461867, $37.35
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, Norton Critical Edition, ISBN 9780393932195, $14.70
Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five, Laurel / Dell, ISBN 9780440180296, $7.99
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Great fiction can make us laugh or cry, in much the way that life can, and it gives us at least the powerful illusion that when we do so
we’re doing pretty much the same things we do when we laugh at Uncle Herman’s jokes, or cry at funerals. Somehow the endlessly
recombining elements that make up works of fiction have their roots hooked, it seems, into the universe, or at least into the hearts of
human beings. Somehow the fictional dream persuades us that it’s a clear, sharp, edited version of the dream all around us.
– John Gardner, The Art of Fiction
I am a proud non-reader of books. I like to get information from doing stuff like actually talking to people and living real life.
– Kanye West, quoted in Reuters article, 5/26/2009
In this class I'm interested in two big, ponderable questions. The first is this: Is reading a waste of time?
Many of you will never take another literature class. Whether to continue reading literature in your adult life is a
serious question, especially considering that life is short and novels tend to be very long. Furthermore, as you'll be
required to do a lot of reading in this class, and as I'll admit outright that the benefits of literature are more intangible
than those of, say, algebra, it seems reasonable for you to wonder: is it worth it?
Each of you comes to this class with serious critical thinking skills and an open mind—the twin barrels of the
philosopher's shotgun—and as philosophers, I know you won't accept either a positive or negative answer to this
question without a lot of careful, chin-stroking analysis. To even begin, of course, we'll need to define our terms,
which leads to my second big question, the heart of our work this semester:
WHAT IS READING?
One productive way of thinking about reading is as a covert project—a conspiracy—between three actors: a text, a
reader and some external context we'll call the world. All three are necessary for reading to occur—at least the
engaging, focused type of reading we want to discuss. (We're not interested in whether skimming is a waste of time.)
I call this a conspiracy (OED: “a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful,” from the Latin root spirare, “to
breathe”) because (a) it is secret. The world in a book is private to you, the reader, who helped create it. Also, (b)
reading requires mental acts that run counter to the “laws” that govern a lot of surface, workaday thinking. It's
sustained and focused in ways that other mental activities aren't.
Some of you may have developed—or, heaven forbid, been taught—the notion that reading is a passive activity that
happens to a reader. Or that literature is something you “get” or “don't get”--a puzzle to solve. I hope that by the end
of the semester you will be persuaded that these are weak theories with few arguments to recommend them.
I don't assume that everyone here reads avidly for pleasure, or that you're all over-the-moon about having to engage a
bunch of ancient texts that I'll admit right now are all totally devoid of vampires or wizards. But this notion you've
been hearing for years—that studying literature the “right” way is key to success in your chosen field and as a human
being, that the benefits of literature are widely applicable—is a popular one among a lot of smart, well-adjusted
people. As philosophers, you owe it to yourselves to look closely at how you read, and what of value happens when
you do.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS
For you: Each class I expect you to arrive prepared, having completed the reading and any assignments due that day. I
expect you to engage fully with the material under discussion and to put thought and effort into your assignments.
According to university policy you should expect to work for two to three hours outside class for every in-class hour,
which amounts to six to eight hours of outside work every week.
For me: As instructor, I will provide you with the information and skills necessary to tackle every assignment in this
class. You should never be surprised by my expectations for your work. Furthermore, I take very seriously the
obligation a teacher has to help students become more knowledgeable, better critical thinkers, and more ready to
engage the world. I hope you'll hold me to this high standard. I will not underestimate your intelligence. I will not
assign busywork. I will make myself available to you for individualized help or to address questions, concerns or
criticism about the course. You can trust that your grade will reflect the quality of your work and nothing else.
For all of us: It is all of our responsibility to make this class worthwhile. I hope you'll respectfully* question things
that your classmates and I say. This is how we will improve our understanding of the course material.
* Hopefully this goes without saying, but respect is a must here. We will be covering topics—war, sex, race—that
may inspire heated debates. It’s important to remember that everyone in this class has a right to be heard, even if you
disagree with what's being said. Treat your classmates with the same respect and kindness that you expect from them.
Consider how your comments might be heard by someone of a different religion, political persuasion, class, race,
nationality, gender and sexual orientation. Refrain from ad hominem arguments.
GRADING POLICY (see Grading FAQ handout for more details)
If your work is excellent—if your participation and assignments show not just enthusiasm but polish and
sophistication, and if you show creative insight, style, and attention to detail in your essays—you will earn an A.
If you show me that you are actively engaged with the material, by participating fully in class and demonstrating a
complex analysis of the material in written assignments, you will earn a B.
A C is average. To earn a C you will need to do average work, in-class and on the page. You may prefer to do average
work and thereby have more time for friends, video games, woodworking—whatever. This won't insult me. But I hope
you'll be enthused by the material and by your classmates, and that you'll want to engage in an above-average way.
A D or F represents work below college-level. If you are concerned, see me for elaboration.
That said, I am merciful regarding the difficulty of some of the material under consideration. You will not be
penalized for a paper whose well-written and well-argued thesis I consider off the mark. I will also consider
improvement, effort and attitude in your final grade.
Participation (attendance, discussion):
Short written assignments:
Essay 1
Essay 2
Essay 3
Final exam:
20%
10%
20%
20%
20%
10%
You will be given the opportunity to submit a revised draft of your first essay for a potential improvement in score.
You must approach me to let me know that you are interested in this option. Other opportunities for extra-credit may
arise, and you should feel free to propose ideas to me.
PARTICIPATION
The easiest way to keep your grade from slipping is to participate. To earn an A in participation, speak thoughtfully
about the material several times in every class period. To earn an A-, speak thoughtfully about the material several
times in every class period but one. To earn a B+,...you get the idea.
To participate, of course, you must be present. In an extreme emergency, notify me of your absence via e-mail, in
advance of class, if possible. For planned absences let me know this week or as soon as possible. I am willing to
excuse planned absences penalty-free within reason. You have two free, unexcused “mental health” absences. An
unexcused absence will drop your participation grade a full letter grade. If you are late for class it counts as a halfabsence. If you are more than 15 minutes late, it counts as a full absence. Note that you cannot participate without
bringing to class the reading material, paper and pen, due assignments, etc.
SHORT ASSIGNMENTS
You will have a short 1-2 page assignment due once per week, and occasionally longer ones. These will often consist
of responses to the reading, to be used in class discussions. There will be both critical and creative assignments, and
sometimes options to choose from. They are informal and you should feel free to experiment and express your
thoughts. I won't grade them harshly, but I will consider both style and content. Late, incomplete or rushed
assignments will earn a “check minus.” All assignments are due in the ICON dropbox at 8:00 am on the due date
and you must also bring a copy of weekly assignments to class. Papers late to the dropbox will be penalized.
FORMAL ESSAYS
The bulk of your grade consists of three formal essays. We will discuss my expectations of your essays extensively
when the first one is assigned. It is highly recommended that you work on multiple drafts before the final draft is due,
and that you bring theses or drafts to me during office hours for comment.
Please type your essays, double-spaced, with standard margins (1 in.) and fonts (12 point Times New Roman).
Number individual pages and title each essay creatively at the top of page 1 (no title page). Make sure your name and
my name appear on all assignments. All written work should conform to MLA documentation style (we will cover this
in class). Essays are due in the ICON dropbox at 8:00 am on the assigned date. No hard copy is needed for class,
but you will need one for your portfolio.
PORTFOLIO
You are required to keep a portfolio of all the course's written assignments. At the end of the semester you will add
two brief evaluative pieces to the portfolio. These will be explained later.
LATE WORK
Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date listed next to the assignment in the syllabus. You will not
receive full credit for late work, even if your excuse is a good one. The penalty is one letter grade for every class after
the due date. For example: if you write an “A” quality paper that due on a Monday, and you submit it after the start of
class Monday but by the start of class Wednesday, the paper will earn a B. Leave more time to complete your
assignment than you think you'll need. If you anticipate difficulty with any deadline you must contact me well in
advance. If you turn in your first essay late you forfeit the opportunity to submit a revision for extra credit.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism means borrowing another person's specific words or ideas, wholly or in part, intentionally or
unintentionally, without giving proper credit. This includes but is not limited to: turning in an assignment written by
someone else; paraphrasing a passage from another work without crediting; using information from any reference
source (including on the Web and especially including Wikipedia) without crediting; and generally failing to use
proper citations and a works cited page. When in doubt, cite. Penalties for plagiarism include academic probation,
suspension, and expulsion. I will penalize guilty assignments with a grade of 0, and will report any plagiarism case to
the head of the Gen. Ed. Lit. department and the academic dean.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Writing Center (110 EPB, 335-0188) and Speaking Center offer free, individual instruction to any student who
may want extra help from experienced professionals. You can sign up for help with a tutor for the entire semester or
make a one-time appointment for help with a specific essay or assignment
SPECIAL NEEDS
I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability which may require seating modifications or testing
accommodations or accommodations of other class requirements, so that appropriate arrangements may be made.
Please contact me during my office hours.
FINAL EXAMS
This will be a short-essay exam. Final exams may be offered only during finals week. No exams of any kind are allowed during the last
week of classes. Final exams may not be rescheduled for any individual student without permission. The scheduled day and time for the
final exam for each section may not be changed. The General Education Literature Program requires that the final exam be
comprehensive in scope and does not allow take-home final exams.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION
You can reach me at benjamin-mauk@uiowa.edu. If you need to contact the Gen. Ed. Lit. department, you can contact director
Brooks Landon at brooks-landon@uiowa.edu, 376 EPB, 335-0641, or the Gen. Ed. Lit. Program assistant office, 64 EPB, 3350484. If you have grade concerns or complaints, you should always see me first. If no satisfactory resolution is gained by discussing the
problem with me, we will take the issue to the Gen. Ed. Lit. program assistant office.
STUDENTS FROM OTHER COLLEGES
This course is given by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This means that class policies on matters such as requirements, grading,
and sanctions for academic dishonesty are governed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Students wishing to add or drop this
course after the official deadline must receive the approval of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Details of the
University policy of cross enrollments may be found at http://www.uiowa.edu/~provost/deos/crossenroll.doc
SEXUAL HARRASSMENT
Sexual harassment is reprehensible and will not be tolerated by the University. It subverts the mission of the University and threatens the
well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Visit the sexual harassment awareness site at http://www.sexualharassment.uiowa.edu/ for
definitions, assistance, and the full University policy.
TORNADO
The University of Iowa Operations Manual, Part V Chapter 16, outlines appropriate responses to a tornado or to a similar crisis. If a
tornado or other severe weather is indicated by the UI outdoor warning system, members of the class should seek shelter in rooms and
corridors in the innermost part of a building at the lowest level, staying clear of windows, corridors with windows, or large free-standing
expanses such as auditoriums and cafeterias. The class will resume, if possible, after the UI outdoor warning system announces that the
severe weather threat has ended.
CELL PHONES
Little will enrage me in this class as much as a buzzing cell phone or a texting student. Keep them off.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Assignments/readings are due on the day they are listed on the syllabus, which is subject to change at my discretion.
Readings and assignments are due the day they are listed on the syllabus. Syllabus is subject to change.
Week 1: Intro to text and close reading
M 8/23: Introductions. Syllabus overview. In-class discussion: “Why read?”
W 8/25: Discuss: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, “Writing Papers about Fiction” (ICON). Due: “What
Is Reading” assignment. (Reminder: Submit in ICON dropbox by 8:00am on 8/25.)
F 8/27: Discuss: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, “Araby”, “The Role of Good Reading” (Gardner
1177-1191). Due: “Close reading” assignment. (Reminder: Submit in ICON dropbox by 8:00am on
8/27.)
Week 2: Text: Close reading
M 8/30: Discuss: “Bartleby the Scrivener”.
W 9/1: Discuss: “The Raven” and “Philosophy of Composition” by E.A. Poe (ICON)
F 9/3: Discuss: “They Flee from Me”, “One Day I Wrote Her Name upon the Strand”, “Sonnet 18”.
Due: “Melville” assignment.
Week 3: Text and Reader: Methods of language
M 9/6: NO CLASS.
W 9/8: Discuss: “Hills Like White Elephants”.
F 9/10: Discuss: “Theme from English B”, “Song of Myself” #46. Due: “Autobiography Poem”
assignment.
Week 4: Who is the reader?
M 9/13: Discuss: “The Metamorphosis” (finish story).
W 9/15: Discuss: “The Metamorphosis” (second reading).
F 9/17: Discuss: “The Metamorphosis”, “Laughing with Kafka” (ICON). Due: Week 4 assignment.
Week 5: Reader, World, War
M 9/20: Discuss: “The Writing Process” (1192-1218). In-class assignments.
W 9/22: Discuss: Slaughterhouse Five chapters 1-4.
F 9/24: Discuss: Slaughterhouse Five chapters 1-4. Due: Week 5 assignment. Paper # 1 assigned.
Week 6: War cont. / Reader and perspective
M 9/27: Discuss: Slaughterhouse Five, chapters 5-end.
W 9/29: Discuss: Slaughterhouse Five, chapters 5-end.
F 10/1: Discuss: Slaughterhouse Five, chapters 5-end; CLASS MEETS IN OLD CAPITOL.
Week 7: Reader and perspective, cont.
M 10/4: Discuss: “The Things They Carried”. (Watch CBS clip.) “Writing about Stories/Poems” (12311247). Due: Week 6 assignment.
W 10/6: Discuss: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”
F 10/8: Discuss: “The Babysitter” (ICON). Due: Week 7 assignment.
Week 8: Reader and author
M 10/11: Discuss: “My Last Duchess”. Due: Paper #1.
W 10/13: Discuss: “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”.
F 10/15: Discuss: “Battle Royale.” Due: Week 8 assignment. Paper #2 assigned.
Week 9: The world and the novel
M 10/18: Discuss: “The Second Coming”, Things Fall Apart, chapters 1-9. Due: Revisions to paper #1.
W 10/20: Discuss: Things Fall Apart, chapters 1-9.
F 10/22: Discuss: Things Fall Apart, chapters 10-17. Due: Week 9 assignment.
Week 10: World and the novel
M 10/25: Discuss: Things Fall Apart, chapters 18-end.
W 10/27: Discuss: Things Fall Apart, chapters 18-end.
F 10/29: Discuss: Things Fall Apart, special presentation. Due: Week 10 assignment.
Week 11: World, Feminism, Post-colonialism.
M 11/1: Discuss: “The Yellow Wallpaper”, “Daddy”, “Tiara”. Due: Paper #2.
W 11/3: Discuss: “The House on Mango Street”, “The Colonel”.
F 11/5: Discuss: Due: Week 11 assignment. Paper # 3 assigned.
Week 12: Drama and reading
M 11/8: Discuss: “Death of a Salesman,” Act 1.
W 11/10: Discuss: “Death of a Salesman,” Act 1.
F 11/12: Discuss: “Death of a Salesman,” Act 2 and Requiem. (i.e. finish play) Due: Week 12
assignment.
Week 13: Drama and film and reading
M 11/15: Discuss: “Death of a Salesman,” Act 2 and Requiem, Synecdoche, New York.
W 11/17: Discuss: Synecdoche, New York (film). Due: Week 13 assignment and week 15 class
selections.
F 11/19: Special research and library session. (Required for paper #3.) (NOTE: DO NOT SHOW UP
TO 209 FOR CLASS. NO OFFICE HOURS)
Week 14: THANKSGIVING RECESS
M 11/22: NO CLASS
W 11/24: NO CLASS
F 11/26: NO CLASS
Week 15: Contemporary Fiction and Poetry
M 11/29: Discuss: Final papers, “Tiara.” Due: paper first paragraphs (serves as week 15 assignment).
W 12/1: Discuss: TBD. Due: Paper#3.
F 12/3: Discuss: “E Unibus Pluram” by David Foster Wallace. (ICON).
Week 16: Fun with Criticism
M 12/6: Discuss: “E Unibus Pluram”. Due: Week 16 assignment.
W 12/8: Discuss: “Against Interpretation” (ICON).
F 12/10: Discuss: Conclusion of course. Due: Portfolio.