DESCRIPTION and OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to literary texts that focus on a particular theme. This particular course focuses on the theme of the family—its members, their relationships, growing up, and other aspects of family life. It looks at how the family has appeared in fiction, poetry, and drama and how it has either remained the same or changed over the years. While the course examines this theme in literature and culture, it also examines literary elements in the genres of fiction, poetry, and drama and looks at these elements in works both directly and indirectly related the course’s theme.
The goals of the course are as follows:
 to examine the role the family plays in a selection of literary texts from classical times to
the present,
 to understand the content of literary texts through careful reading and discussion,
 to analyze texts using specific literary terms and devices,
 to present analysis of these texts in class discussion,
 to write essays that effectively convey understanding of specific texts and literary terms.
TEXTS AND
MATERIALS
Required: Gardner, Janet. et al, ed. Literature: A Portable Anthology.
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.
Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations.* Oxford World Classics
(paperback). New York: Oxford U.P., 1994.
Additional Materials ( voucher fee )
*Another edition of Great Expectations is acceptable.
CLASSES
Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:45 pm. If you are unable to attend a class, please try to notify me in advance. During the class time we will discuss the assigned literature as well as the various elements of each genre. Participation is essential. Therefore, come prepared to each class with your book and all of your assignment completed.

OFFICE AND CONFERENCES
Conferences with the writing fellow to review drafts are required as is one conference, at least, with me. However, you can come any time to see me in my office to discuss a paper or any topic related to our course. To make an appointment, please sign your name beside a specific conference time on the sheet taped on my office door ( Olney, 156 ).
Office Hours :
Tuesday & Thursday: 8:45-9:15 & 12:15-12:45; Wednesday 8:45-11:15 & 1:00-
2:30; and other times by appointment
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is mandatory. To participate fully you need to attend all classes. More than three absences may lower your participation grade, and more than six may result in a failure.
If for some reason, you must miss a class, please get the assignment for the next class from another student; and, if possible, notify me in advance.
MAILBOX, TELEPHONE, E-MAIL, AND FAX
Mailbox : English Department (Olney 141).
Telephone: (215) 951-5002 (After several rings, calls will be transferred to the English office--951-1145.); E-Mail : lehr@lasalle.edu
; Fax: (215-951-1488)
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES
There will be 2 papers, 2 examinations, and a series of short quizzes and an oral report.
Papers
Mid–term Examination
Final Examination
Quizzes/Oral Report
25% (10% and 15% each)
20%
25%
20%
Participation 10%
All papers must be typed and submitted on time; late papers, with few exceptions, will receive a lower grade. Quizzes cannot be made up, if you are absent the day of one; and exams be made up only because of exceptional circumstances.
Although you will work with writing fellows, you are also encouraged to seek help with assignments at the Sheekey Writing Center (Olney-203.)
PLAGIARISM
All work submitted must be your own . If you need help, please seek it from me, your writing fellow, or tutors in the Writing Center. In preparing papers, acknowledge all secondary sources consulted whether you actually quoted, paraphrased, or just reviewed them. (Include a bibliography or Works Cited page.) If you fail to abide by these rules, you will be guilty of plagiarism, which will result in a F ailure for the assignment and—if consciously done— a
F ailure in the course. Additionally, students may be referred to the University for further disciplinary action (see the Student Handbook ).

V
II
I
SCHEDULE
The following gives a general overview of the readings, exams, and papers along with their tentative due dates. Specific assignments as well as detailed directions for papers will be given in class.
Week
Jan. 18
Readings/Assignments
Tues. Introduction: Overview of the Course
20 Thurs. Plot ― Faulkner, “Barn Burning”: 161-175; Character and Characterization
― Welty, “A Worn Path”: 189-195
Jan. 25 Tues. Point of View― Walker, “Everyday Use”: 324-331;
Setting―
Hemingway, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”:
176-179
27 Thurs. Style & Irony― O'Connor, "A Good Man is Hard to
Find”: 247-259
III Feb. 1 Tues. Quiz #1; Allegory & Symbol― Lawrence: “The
Rocking-Horse Winner": 140-152
3 Thurs. Dickens, Great Expectations: Bk. I, Chaps. I-IX (1-71);
PAPER# 1—ROUGH DRAFT
IV 8 Tues. Dickens, Great Expectations: Bk. I, Chap. X-XVIII
(71-143)
10 Thurs. Great Expectations: Bk. I, Chap. XIX-Bk. 2, Chap. VI
(143-208)
15 Tues. Great Expectations:
(208-281); Quiz #2
Bk. II, Chap.VII-Chap. XVI
17 Thurs. Great Expectations: Bk. II, Chap. XVII-Bk. III, Chap.
IV (282-354)

VI
VII
IX
X
XI
Feb. 22 Tues. Great Expectations : Bk. III, Chap. V-Bk. III, Chap.
XIII (354-416)
24 Thurs. Great Expectations: Bk. III, Chap XIV-Bk. III, Chap.
XX (416-479)
Mar. 1 Tues.
EXAMINATION # 1
3 Thurs. Persona, Tone, and Voice―
Brooks, “We Real Cool":
559; Irony― Roethke, “My Papa’s Waltz”: 547;
PAPER #1
[Mar. 8 & 10--MID-SEMESTER HOLIDAYS ]
15 Tues. Allegory & Symbol ― Heaney, “Digging”: 624;
Imagery― Mistral: “Poems of the Mothers” (Additional
Materials); Conferences
17 Thurs. Stanza & Villanelle*― Thomas, "Do not go gentle into
That good night”: 556; Ballad― Randal, “Ballad of
Birmingham”: 552;
Elegy―
Ransom, “Bells for John
Whiteside’s Daughter”: 531; Quiz #3
Mar. 22 Tues. Sonnet― Shakespeare, "Sonnet 116": 380; Alliteration
& Poetic Diction― Hopkins, "God's Grandeur": 494;
Free Verse― Ortiz Cofer, “Cold as Heaven”: 688-689;
Conferences; PAPER #2--ROUGH DRAFT
24 Thurs. Tragedy― Sophocles, Oedipus Rex: 719-762;
Conferences
Mar. 29 Tues. Oedipus Rex (cont.); Quiz #4; Conferences
31 Thurs. Soliloquy― Shakespeare,
Hamlet: Act I: 763-791; Conferences
Apr. 5
7
Tues.
Thurs.
PAPER #2
NO CLASS
*See handout for villanelle

XII
XIII
XIV
12 Tues. Hamlet: Act II and III: 791-818
14 Thurs. Hamlet: Act III and IV: 818-848;
19 Tues. Hamlet: Act IV and V: 848-884; Quiz #5
21 Thurs. Realism: Ibsen, A Doll’s House: Act I
26 Tues. A Doll's House: Act II
28 Thurs. A Doll's House: Act III; REVIEW
[ May 3 or 5 FINAL EXAMINATION ]