Literature and the Environment
Fall semester, 2004-2005 academic year
A selected course for Tamkang English majors
Lecturer: Yang Ming-tu
Objectives: (1) to give students knowledge of basic ecological literature, (2) to
raise their ecological consciousness for environmental protection, (3) to train
their ability for advanced studies of ecoliterature
Weekly Reading
1. Leopold, “Thinking Like a Mountain” in The Sandy County Almanac
2. A Section of Film, “Winged Migration”; Leopold, “Elegy of the Mashes,” in
The Sandy County Almanac
3. Gwynne Dyer, “A Cruel Universe, But the Only One Where Humans Could
Exist” (348-351) from The Contemporary Reader
4. Lewis Thomas, “On Natural Death” (365-369) from The Contemporary Reader
5. Film, Whale Rider
6. Alexandra Morton, “Life Among the Whales,” (142-151) from Intimate Nature
7. Garma C.C. “The Great Vows of Samantabhadra” (187-196) from The
Buddhist Philosophy of Totality
8. Langston Hughes, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” and Bell Hooks, “Touching
the Earth”(168-173), Literature and the Environment
9. Linda Hogan, “What Holds the Water,” What Holds the Ligh,” (172-176),
Literature and the Environment
10. Lucille Clifton, “Sonora Desert Poem” (176-178); John Muir, “A
Wind-Storm in the Forests” (179-182), Literature and the Environment
11. Pam Houston, “A Blizzard Under Blue Sky”(182-188); Wallace Stevens, “The
Snow Man” (189), Literature and the Environment
12. Simon J. Ortiz, ”Forever” (189-190); Jack Kerouac, “Alone on a
Moutaintop” (191-199), Literature and the Environment
13. Barbara Kingsolver, “A Memory Place” (199-205), Literature and the
Environment
14. Jerry Mander, “The Walling of Awareness” (205-214), Literature and the
Environment
15. Jim Dodge, “Living by Life: Some Bioregional Theory and Practice”
(230-238) , Literature and the Environment
16. Andrew Bobson, “The Sustainable Society,” from Green Political Thought
17. Andrew Bobson, “The Sustainable Society,” from Green Political Thought
18. Tino Villanueva, “Haciendo Apenas La Regoleccion” (219-221) , Literature
and the Environment
Questions for Examinations: Vocabulary, 30%; Definition of Terms, 20%; Essay
Questions, 20%; Multiple Choice, 32%; Others, 10%
Grading: Class attendance, 20%; Mid-term exam., 20%; Term Paper, 60%