English 2112: World Literature I - Syllabus for Spring 2013
Rachel Scoggins, Academic 102 - rscoggins@gordonstate.edu
http://www.gordonstate.edu/PT_Faculty/rscoggins/
Office Hours: M/W 1:15-2:45 pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION/SYLLABUS
Course description: A survey of important works of world literature from the ancient times to the seventeenth century.
Prerequisite for the course: A C or better in English 1101.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of ENGL 2112, World Literature II, the student will have:
1. gained awareness of major writers and literary periods in the canon of World Literature.
2. demonstrated competence in literary analysis.
3. demonstrated an understanding of fundamental literary and critical terminology.
4. developed an awareness of aesthetic experiences as a dimension of life by demonstrating competence in literary studies.
If you need academic accommodations for a disability, you must first see Dr. Kristina Henderson, Student Counselor, in the Student
Center (second floor). Her telephone number is 678 359-5585.
Course Content:
The course plan is to focus on the following authors; others will also be assigned:
These are literally world-famous stories, poems, and plays. People have enjoyed them around the world. However, if you do not budget
enough time for your reading, you may start to view them as a burden rather than a pleasure. Instead, expect to take a great deal of time—
then relax and enjoy yourself. The best pleasures cannot be hurried.
Required Texts: The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Shorter Edition, Vol. 1. Ed. Peter Simon. New York: Norton, 2009.
Various texts accessed via the internet
Grading:
Class participation/quizzes
Homework
First exam
Second exam:
Research Paper:
Final Exam:
15%
10%
15%
20%
15%
25%
Standards: A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69
Your failure to do any assignment listed above (except pop quizzes and homework) will result in your failing the course. If you believe
you have a good reason for being excused from a pop quiz, discuss it with me promptly; I will decide on a case-by-case basis whether or
not to keep the zero, excuse the quiz, or give a make-up with or without grade penalty.
Your paper will be a researched assignment - a traditional term paper. the subject must be approved. You will express your
opinions about a piece of literature, but for this assignment you will also include the views of scholars on the subject. The paper must be a
minimum of 1200 words (not including bibliography). Another option is to choose a piece of literature we did not read in class (either
from this edition of the Norton or the longer Norton Vol. 1 edition). After reading the piece of literature, you will do an oral presentation
explaining the plot, themes, and significance of the text and turn in a 1000 word research paper. MLA format is required for in-text
citations and works cited page for both papers.
Your exams will probably include some “objective” questions (e.g. identifying quotations); they will certainly include some
discussion questions.
Attendance policy: Without class discussions and lectures, you might as well read this literature on your own. You will find that
experiencing a group’s reaction to a piece of writing is something that cannot be recreated through merely reading class notes. This is not
just a lecture class. Furthermore, you can contribute to the class: thoughtful questions can be just as valuable as insightful comments
(though they should be the questions of a person who has read the material). Missing classes will reduce your ability to contribute and will
therefore lower your class participation grade. Furthermore, specific in-class activities will be used to help establish your participation
grade, and in most cases these activities must be carried out during a particular class period.
If you must miss a class, let me know beforehand if you can (via email message even during class if need be); check the website
or talk to fellow classmates for anything missed. If you are in class – even if you missed a previous class - you will be expected to take the
quiz.
Cell phones and other electronic devices: So that we can make the best use of our limited time together, turn off your cell
phones and any other electronic devices before class begins,. Exception: Emergency personnel may leave theirs on and slip out of class to
take phone calls in the hall when necessary. If you have a job as an EMT (or similar work), notify me during the first week of classes
and be sure to sit near the door. Also, if you have some other sort of emergency situation for which you wish to stay in cell phone contact,
speak to me about the problem before the relevant class period in order to be granted an exception. All students should remember that
they will receive a class participation grade, and cell phone interruptions disturb discussion.
Student Evaluation of Instruction: Near the end of this course, you may be asked to evaluate the instruction of the course. Your honest
responses will help make this a better course. Also, please feel free to make suggestions during the course. Remember, I want to hear
from you.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Jan. 9
Earliest Literatures: Ancient Egyptian poetry and Hebrew Bible
Jan. 16
Earliest Literatures cont.: Gilgamesh
Jan. 23
Ancient Greece: Homer, The Iliad
Jan. 30
Sophocles, Oedipus The King
Feb. 6
Ancient Rome: Virgil The Aeneid; Ovid, The Metamorphoses
Feb. 13
Literature of China: selections from Confucius, Analects; T’ao Ch'ien; Li Po; Tu Fu
Test 1 over Ancient Greece and Rome
Feb. 20
India’s Heroic Age: Ramayana; Bhagavad-Gita
Feb. 27
India’s Classical Age: Visnusarman; Bhartrhari; Amaru; Somadeva
Mar. 6
Literature of Japan: Shikibu, Tale of Genji
Mar. 13
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
Mar. 20
Rise of Islam and Islamic literature: The Koran (selections), The Thousand and One Nights
Mar. 27
Medieval poetry: Marie de France, Lais
Test 2 over India, China, Japan, and Islamic literatures
Apr. 3
Anglo-Saxon literature: Beowulf
Apr. 10
Dante, Inferno
Apr. 17
Boccaccio, The Decameron
Apr. 24
Cervantes, Don Quixote Part I; final exam review