Literary Criticism and Analysis
ENG 2213-04
HSS: 3.04.06
11 AM Fall 2010
Faculty and Office: Roberta Barki, MB 2.308
Office Hours: MWF 10-10:45AM and by request
Course Description: In this course, we will explore poetry, prose, and drama alongside major theories
of the twentieth-century. Theories we will examine include, but are not limited to, Postcolonial Theory,
Feminism, Third Space Feminism, New Historicism/Cultural Materialism, Marxism, and Postmodernism.
Students will choose two different Theories and explicate their major components and terminologies.
Students are encouraged to incorporate outside works— including music, fashion, television shows, and
movies—to enhance their understand of each theoretical perspective and assist class discussions of these
theories. In addition to the Literary Criticism aspect of this course, we will also engage the course texts
utilizing field specific language to enhance close reading skills. We will build upon these discourses to
construct unique, researched final papers that each student personally chooses and develops. We will also
probe deeper questions such as: what are the movements we see happening over the course of the 20th
century, in regards to theories and identity formation? How is the human body and individual identity
influenced by socio-political/ socio-historical contexts? How are these realities reflected by new emerging
theories, if at all? What is the role of literature? This course is required of majors and fulfills the core
curriculum component area for literature, and requires completion of CORE Curriculum requirements in
rhetoric prior to enrollment.
Course Texts:
Abrahms, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 8th ed. Boston, MA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004.
Alexie, Sherman. Ten Little Indians. New York: Grove, 2003.
Angelou, Maya. Poems. New York: Bantam, 1993.
Anzaldua, Gloria. Borderlands/ La Frontera. 3rd ed. San Francisco, CA: Aunt Lute, 2007.
Castillo, Ana. Peel My Love Like an Onion. New York: Anchor, 1999.
Espada, Martin. Alabanza. New York: W.W. Norton, 2003.
Guerin, Wilfrid,Earle Labor, Lee Morgan, Jeanne Reesman, John Willingham, Eds. A Handbook
of Critical Approaches to Literature. 6th ed. New York: Oxford UP: 2010.
Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 6th ed. New York: St. Martin’s, 2006/9.
Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. New York: Scribner, 2003.
Soyinka, Wole. Death and the King’s Horseman. New York: W.W. Norton, 1975
Course Assignments for Grades:
Terminology 1 page write ups (2 x 10%)
= 20%
Mid-Term Exam
= 15%
Class Participation
= 20%
5-8pg Term Paper
= 25%
Final Exam
= 20%
* Grades can only be retrieved in person or via ASAP.
* Extra Credit will be made available for specific Group Work activities when applicable.
Class Participation
This class is discussion based and designed to provide a platform for us to converse and debate over
theories and texts. As such, students should plan to vocally contribute to each class. Class participation
grades are based on these contributions (ie. have you spoken at least once a week?) and in-class writing
assignments that will be given during the course of the semester.
Scholastic Dishonesty Policy
According to Section 203.b of the UTSA Code of Conduct Handbook, “‘Scholastic dishonesty’ is any
form of cheating or plagiarism that violates the Student Code of Conduct. Scholastic Dishonesty or
academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic
records, and any act designed to give unfair advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to,
submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the
instructor, providing false or misleading information in an effort to receive a postponement or an
extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment), or the attempt to commit such an act.” Any instance of
plagiarism that is found will result in an immediate “F” for the assignment, potentially a failing grade for
the course, and judicial action. If you are concerned at any point in the semester that you might be
broaching one of these areas, please speak to me prior to handing in your work so that we can determine
how to remedy the situation.
Disabilities
Students who require special accommodations for in-class work must register with Disability Services.
Please visit www.utsa.edu/disabilities for more information.
Class Expectations
As per the course catalog for UTSA, all students are required to come to class prepared and ready to
learn. You are expected to complete all reading assignments prior to class and have all hand-in
assignments ready for submission. Neither texting nor cell phone calls are permitted in class: Please turn
off your phone prior to class.
Attendance Policy
You are allowed three absences for the semester. Any work missed during an excused absence must be
electronically received by the professor by the end of the school day to receive credit, except where there
are pending exigent circumstances. Each absence following your permitted three will reduce your final
grade by 1/3 of a letter. Similarly, tardiness will also be counted towards your absences, with 6 lates
representing 1 absence. Extra Credit will be offered throughout the semester to alleviate absences. Please
ask professor for more information.
Schedule
Aug 25th – Introduction, Syllabus Distribution
Aug 27th – Class Expectation Contract
Canon Formation and Critical Approaches
Aug 30th – Canon Formation, Traditional Approaches, New Criticism:
Review from Handbook Pages 17-21, 74-79 and the Practice on 96-99.
Sept 1st – Reader Response
In Class Activity
Sept 3rd – Marxist Theory and Criticism
Review Handouts and Pages 125-30 in Handbook
Sept 6th – Labor Day - NO CLASS
Sept 8th – Martin Espada, Poems beginning on pages: 93, 94, 117 and worksheets
Sept 10th – Martin Espada, Poems beginning on pages: 73, 152, and select one poem to discuss
Assignment Due Today: Count the number of pawn shops in one square block of the
downtown San Antonio area OR find the average number of pawn shops in major cities
across the country. What areas do they tend to be centrally located in?
Sept 13th – Modernism and Postmodernism, Structuralism and Post-Structuralism
Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 319- 25 and 169-77 from Handbook
th
Sept 15 – Psychoanalysis
Review Handouts, Presentations, and Chapter 6 from Handbook
th
Sept 17 – Sun Also Rises pages 1-42
Sept 20th – Sun Also Rises pages 43-130
Sept 22nd – Sun Also Rises pages 131-191
Sept 24th – Sun Also Rises pages 192- Finish
Sept 27th – Cultural Materialism/ New Historicism
Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 130-37 from Handbook
Sept 29th – Cultural Studies
Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 305-08, 353-55 from Handbook
Oct. 1st – Critical Race Theory
Review Handouts, and pages 308-19 from Handbook
Oct. 4th – Maya Angelou
Review Poems: “The Calling of Names,” “On Working White Liberals,” “The
Thirteens (Black),” “The Thirteens (White)”
th
Oct. 6 –Maya Angelou
Review Poems: “Africa,” “America,” “The Pusher,” “Junkie Monkey Reel
th
Oct. 8 –Maya Angelou
Review Poems: “My Arkansas,” “Through the Inner City,” “Ain’t That Bad,”
“Slave Coffle”
Oct. 11th – Midterm Exam
Oct. 13th – Postcolonial Theory
Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 361-71 from Handbook
th
Oct. 15 – Transculturation, Contact Zones, and Border Theory
Review Handouts, Fanon Chapter, and Chapter 1 from Borderlands
Oct. 18th – Wole Soyinka
Review Act 1 and socio-political and historical overview of Yoruba culture
Oct. 20th – Wole Soyinka
Review Acts 2 and 3 of Death and the King’s Horseman
Oct. 22nd – Wole Soyinka
Review Acts 4 and 5
Oct. 25th – Feminism
Review Handouts, Class Presentations, and Handbook pgs 253- 260-64, 270-75
Oct. 27th – Queer Theory
Review Handouts, Class Presentations, Handbook pgs 275-78, and Borderlands
Chapter 2
th
Oct. 29 – Third Space Feminism
Review Handouts, Class Presentations, Handbook pgs 264-70, and Boderlands
Chapter 3
Nov. 1st – Peel My Love Like an Onion,
Opening poems and Chapters 1 and 2; Submit Chosen Theoretical Perspective
Nov. 3rd – Peel My Love Like an Onion
Chapters 3 and 4
Nov. 5th – Peel My Love Like an Onion
Chapters 5 and 6
Nov. 8th – Peel My Love Like an Onion
Chapters 7 and 8
th
Nov.10 – Peel My Love Like an Onion
Chapters 9 and 10
Nov.12th – Library Research Day
Nov. 15th – Library Research Day
Nov. 17th – Alexie, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” 169-79
Nov. 19th – Alexie, “What You…” 179-89
Provide Research List
Nov. 22nd – Alexie, “What You…” 189-finish
Nov. 24th – Alexie- Student Choice
Nov. 26th – Thanksgiving Holiday – NO CLASS
Nov. 29th – Exam Preparation
TERM PAPER DUE
Dec. 1st – Exam Preparation
Dec. 3rd – Exam Preparation
FINAL EXAM: Monday 13-Dec 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Study Dates: December 6-7, 2010; Final Grades are Due December 17, 2010
*This syllabus is subject to change