LA SALLE UNIVERSITY
English 150
Themes in Literature and Culture:
Literature and the Family
Dr. Lehr
Fall 2006
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. 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
Two conferences with the writing fellow to review drafts are required as is at least one conference
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: 8:30-9:30, 2:30-3:30 and other times by appointment
ATTENDANCE
Class attendance is mandatory. To participate fully you need to attend all classes. More than two
absences may lower your participation grade, and more than four 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--9511145.); E-Mail: lehr@lasalle.edu; Fax: (215-951-1488); Web Page: www.lasalle.edu/~lehr
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES
There will be 2 papers, 2 examinations, and a series of short quizzes and an oral report.
Papers
25% (10% and 15% each)
Mid-term Examination
20%
Final Examination
20%
Quizzes/Oral Report
20% (5% each)
Participation
15%
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 & TURNITIN.COM
All work submitted must be your own. If you need help, please seek it from your instructor,
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 Failure for the assignment and—if consciously done— a Failure
in the course.
To insure that all borrowed work is acknowledged and correctly documented, please submit the
files for your two papers to turnitin.com.
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.
I
Week
Aug. 29
31
II
Sept. 5
7
III
IV
Thurs. Plot ―Faulkner, “Barn Burning”: 161-175; Character ―
Walker, “Everyday Use”: 324-331
Tues. Point of View―Joyce, “Araby”: 96-100; Setting―
Hemingway, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place”: 176-179
Thurs. Style, Tone, Irony― O'Connor, "A Good Man is Hard to
Find”: 247-259
Sept. 12
Tues. Quiz #1; Symbolism and Allegory― Steinbeck, “The
Chrysanthemums”: 180-188
14
Thurs. Dickens, Introduction; PAPER# 1—ROUGH DRAFT
Sept. 19
21
V
Readings/Assignments
Tues. Introduction: Overview of the Course
Sept. 26
28
Tues. Dickens, Great Expectations: Bk. I, Chaps. I-IX (1-71);
Thurs. Great Expectations: Bk. I., Chaps. X-XVIII (71-143)
Tues. Great Expectations: Bk. I, Chap. XIX-Bk. 2, Chap. VI
(143-208)
Thurs. Great Expectations: Bk. II, Chap.VII-Chap. XVII
(208-281); Quiz # 2
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
Oct.
3
Tues. Great Expectations: Bk. II, Chap. XVIII-Bk. III, Chap. IV
(282-354); PAPER #1
5
Thurs. Great Expectations: Bk. III, Chap. V- (pp. 354-416)
10
Tues. MID-TERM EXAMINATION
12
Thurs. Rhythm―Brooks, “We Real Cool": 559;
Irony― Roethke, “My Papa’s Waltz”: 547;
17
Tues. Browning, “My Last Duchess”: 464-465; Symbol and
Allegory― Heaney, “Digging”: 624; Patterns of Imagery―
Mistral: “Poems of the Mothers” (Additional Materials);
Conferences
19
Thurs. 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
24
Tues. MID-SEMESTER HOLIDAY
26
Thurs. Sonnet― Shakespeare, "Sonnet 116": 380;
Hopkins, "God's Grandeur": 494; Free Verse― Ortiz Cofer,
“Cold as Heaven”: 688-689; Conferences; PAPER #2-ROUGH DRAFT
Oct.
31
Tues. Sophocles, Oedipus Rex: 719-762; Conferences
Nov.
2
Thurs. Oedipus Rex (cont.); Quiz #4; Conferences
Nov.
7
Tues. Elizabethan Drama: Shakespeare,
Hamlet: Act I: 763-791; Conferences
9
Thurs. PAPER #2
14
Tues. Hamlet: Act II and III: 791-818
16
Thurs. Hamlet: Act III and IV: 818-848;
Oct.
Oct..
Oct.
Nov.
XIII
XIV
XV
Nov.
Dec.
21
Tues. Hamlet: Act IV and V: 848-884; Quiz #5
23
Thurs. THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
28
Tues. Realism: Ibsen, A Doll’s House: Act I
30
Thurs. A Doll's House: Act II
5
Tues. A Doll's House: Act III
7
Thurs. Review for Final Examination and Evaluation
[Dec 11 to 15
Rev. 08-23-06
FINAL EXAMINATION]