Introduction to Literature ENG 112
Spring ‘09
Instructor:
Office:
Contact:
Devin Wood
151 Maine Hall
Email dwood@emcc.edu
Cell 951-5168
Work 974-4636
Office hours: Any time by appointment
Text
Kirzner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell. Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting,
Writing, Sixth edition. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007. (Required)
Course description
This course seeks to develop an appreciation of literature and insights into human values
that can be derived from close studies of it. Students will read, discuss and write about a
selection of short stories and poetry.
Course goals
 To develop an understanding of literature as an artform
 To explore literature as a means of gaining greater insights into human motivations and
values
 To develop skills in the analysis and written criticism of fiction and poetry
Performance objectives
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
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Identify various elements of the short story and poem
Discuss short stories and poems in some depth
Write well-organized critical papers on assigned short stories and poems
Recognize the difference between escape literature and interpretive literature
Distinguish between sentimental verse and true poetry
Evaluate literary works through comparing and contrasting works with similar themes
Identify works of certain authors and poets by recognizing their styles and themes.
Grading
 Your grade will be based on:

reader response essays (4 @ 300 words)
analytical essays (2 @ 1000 words)
exams (2)
pop quizzes (10 best)
40%
20%
20%
20%
The reader response essays will consist of detailed answers to one or more questions
taken directly from the end of the readings. Two of the essays will cover fiction, and the
other two will cover poetry. You may choose which assigned stories and poems you wish
to respond to, as well as which question(s) to answer. However, your written response
must be submitted before the story or poem is discussed in class and by the
corresponding deadlines (see attached schedule).

The longer essays should be relatively thorough analyses of assigned works of selected
short fiction and poetry, applying the concepts covered in the course. You may begin
the essays as soon as you have a grasp of the concepts and rewrite them as often as you
wish up until the due date. By creating a dialogue with me about your essays you can
ensure a good grade.

The midterm and final exams cover the concepts addressed in the course. The midterm
will be over short fiction; the final will be over poetry.
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Pop quizzes will consist of two simple content questions intended to help me determine
whether you’re doing the assigned readings. These quizzes will be given at the top of the
hour; if you miss them you may not make them up.

All writing assignments must be word processed.
This course complies with Affirmative Action, Americans with Disabilities,
and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, as detailed in the course
catalog and student handbook.
Course schedule
(Read on your own: “A Guide to Writing about Literature” 3-69)
Week
Readings
Due
1/13-1/15
Understanding Fiction 73-79
Happy Endings 94
Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape 98
1/20-1/22
Plot 100-103
The Story of an Hour 104
A Rose for Emily 113
1/27-1/29
Character 125-128
A&P 129
Gryphon 139
Reader response Deadline #1
2/3-2/5
Setting 154-158
The Storm 158
Hills Like White Elephants 80
2/10-2/12
Point of view 182-191
Cathedral 289
The Lottery 274
2/24-2/26
Theme 314-318
Doe Season 327
The Things They Carried 251
3/3-3/5
Analyzing Fiction
Greasy Lake 359
Reader response Deadline #2
3/10-3/12
Fiction review &
essay workshop
3/17-3/19
MIDTERM EXAM
FICTION EXAM
Short fiction essay final (1000 words)
3/24-3/26
Understanding Poetry 439-451
Voice 459-488
Suicide Note 468
Veiled 470
The Unknown Citizen 484
Speaker, Tone, Irony
4/7-4/9
Word Choice, Word Order 489-510
Choice, Diction, Order
4/14-4/16
Figures of Speech 521
Metaphor, Hyperbole
Metonymy, Apostrophe
4/21-4/23
Sound 547-568
Rhythm, Meter, Rhyme
4/28-4/30
Form 569-596
5/5-5/7
Poetry review &
essay workshop
5/12-5/14
FINAL EXAM
Living in Sin 494
We Real Cool 504
To An Athlete Dying Young 508
Metaphors 527
you fit into me 541
A Supermarket in California 543
Reader response Deadline #3
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers 555
Blackberry Eating 565
Jabberwocky 566
On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer 575
First Fight. Then Fiddle 576
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun 519
Reader response Deadline #4
POETRY EXAM
Poetry essay final (1000 words)