English 222/001,002
World Literature from the Enlightenment to the Modern Period
Anita Willsie Kerr, PhD
Fall 2010
Office and Hours: Tompkins G131, T/TH 9:45 – 10:45, T/TH 3:30 – 4:30 and
by appointment. Campus phone: 515-4122 e-mail: anita@ncsu.edu or anitawillsiekerr@gmail.com
Course Topics and Required Texts
Moliere, Tartuffe. ( W. W. Norton) $14.95
Pope, “Essay on Man”, “The Rape of the Lock” in Essay on Man and other Poems
(Dover) $3.00
Pushkin, “The Queen of Spades” and other Stories. (Oxford) $12.95
Ibsen, An Enemy of the People, and The Wild Duck (in Six Great Plays) (Bantom) $6.95
Chekhov, Seagull and The Cherry Orchard in Four Major Plays. (Ivan R. Dee) $16.95
Alain-Fournier. The Lost Estate. (Penguin) $14.00
Hesse. Demian. (Harper Collins) $12.95
Caveat: By mid-semester, the NCSU bookstore returns all unpurchased textbooks,
so don’t wait until the end of the semester to buy the necessary books.
Course Description
English/Foreign Language 222 explores major works, in English translation, of
masterpieces of Western Literature from the Enlightenment through the Modern period.
We will read these texts to gain an understanding and appreciation of their literary merit,
the ways in which they reflect the cultures that produced them, and the lasting impact
they have made on our own literature and culture. To connect works from such disparate
cultures and time periods, we will examine the ways that each is centered on the
definition and understanding of the self in society. To facilitate these goals, we will work
to read critically and analytically and to convey our interpretations in a clear, well-written
format.
Course Requirements
Requirements for English 222-001/002 include regular attendance, keeping up with
reading assignments, and active participation in class discussions. You may expect
unannounced quizzes on the readings, so make sure to read the material indicated for
each class meeting. In addition, students will write two essay papers of approximately 5
pages each, write regular informal responses on the readings, take a midterm and prepare
a final examination presentation for the class. To facilitate both close reading and active
participation, please bring the text to each class meeting.
The essay assignments will be evaluated for content and form. To that end, when I grade
your papers, I will look for thorough, thoughtful, and original interpretations of the works
of fiction as well as sound writing skills. A well written paper will thus require a clear,
compelling thesis, clearly organized and specific support with appropriate details from
the subject text, and correct grammar, spelling, and mechanics. Please follow the MLA
format, with double spacing, 1 inch margins on all sides, and MLA documentation of
sources. Use a plain typeface, with a point size of either 10 or 12. More detailed
guidelines are included on the assignment handout. Essay assignments must be turned
in paper format. No e-mail submissions will be accepted.
Grade Breakdown
Critical Essays (20% ea)
Midterm
Final Exam Presentation
Class work and participation*
40%
20%
20%
20%
*Class participation will be broken down equally as follows:
One-page, double spaced responses to each of the major readings
(Pope, Moliere, Pushkin, Chekhov, Ibsen, Alain-Fournier, and Hesse.
A response is required for each work; some authors will thus have two
responses. Due dates for these responses are noted on the calendar.
Responses MAY be turned in electronically.
*Quizzes and class projects
*Meaningful and regular participation in class discussions
*Regular attendance (see below)
Attendance and Due Dates
NCSU policy on attendance allows you three non-excused absences per semester before
your participation grade is lowered. If you know that you will not be able to attend class
on a certain day, please let me know before and bring documentation to verify excused
absences. You are responsible for keeping track of any absences you incur. The essay
papers are due and midterm and final exams must be taken on the day they are assigned,
unless you discuss the situation with me and a revised due date is approved. Because of
their nature, quizzes may not be made up for non-excused absences.
Student Services
If you have any concerns about the planning or writing of your papers, I will be happy to
meet with you to discuss them. You do not need an appointment to drop by during my
office hours. Writing tutors are also provided free of charge through the NCSU tutorial
center.
Plagiarism is a serious offence and will be dealt with accordingly. Students will be
expected to abide by the University’s honor pledge: "I have neither given nor received
unauthorized aid on this test or assignment." Your name or signature on any test or
assignment means that you neither gave nor received unauthorized aid.
NCSU also provides confidential counseling and assistance to students with physical,
psychological and learning 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:
http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/academic_affairs/pols_regs.
Course Evaluations
Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last two
weeks of class. Students will receive an email message directing them to a web site where
they can login using their Unity ID and complete evaluations. All evaluations are
confidential; instructors will never know how any one student responded to any question,
and students will never know the ratings for any particular instructors.
Calendar of Readings and Assignments
The following calendar lists the schedule for individual readings, as well as due dates and
University holidays. Please come to class prepared to discuss the reading for the day
unless an announced change has been made. A lively and profitable discussion of any
literature is dependant on varied interpretations, so I look forward to hearing your
reactions to the literature. Any necessary changes to the calendar will be announced in
class and via Moodle. Due dates and holidays are in bold.
Week One
August 19
Course Introduction
Week Two
August 24
The Enlightenment: Pope, “Essay on Man”
August 26
Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”
Week Three
August 31
Moliere, Tartuffe , Acts I and II
September 1
Tartuffe, Act III, Pope Responses due
Week Four
September 7
Pushkin, “Tales of Belkin”, pp 3 - 37
Moliere Response due
September 9
“Tales of Belkin”, pp. 38 – 67
Week Five
September 14
Puskin, “The Queen of Spades”
Group Project
“Belkin” Response due
September 16
“The Queen of Spades”
Week Six
September 21
Checkhov, Seagull, Acts I and II
“Spades” Response due
September 23
Seagull, Acts III and IV
Week Seven
September 28
Seagull Film
September 30
Seagull Film
Essay I Due
Week Eight
October 5
The Cherry Orchard, Acts I and II
Seagull Response due
October 7
Fall Break
Week Nine
October 12
The Cherry Orchard, Acts III and IV
October 15
Midterm Exam
Week Ten
October 19
Ibsen, An Enemy of the People, Acts I and II
“Orchard” response due
October 21
Enemy, Acts III, IV, and V
Week Eleven
October 26
The Wild Duck, Acts I and II
“Enemy” Response due
October 28
The Wild Duck, Acts III, IV, and V
Week Twelve
November 2
Alain-Fournier, The Lost Estate, pp. 11 – 60
Wild Duck response due
November 4
Estate, pp. 61 - 123
Week Thirteen
November 9
Estate, pp. 124 - 160
November 11
Estate, pp, 161 – 206
Week Fourteen
November 16
Second Essay Due
Hesse, Damien, pp. 1 - 39
November 18
Damien, pp. 40 – 77
Estate response due
Week Fifteen
November 23
Damien, pp. 78 - 113
November 25
Thanksgiving Holiday
Week Sixteen
November 30
Damien , pp. 114 – 149
December 2
Damien response due
Presentations
Final Exam
December 14: 222-02 (8 – 11 am) December 9: 222-03 (1 – 4pm)