The Franciscan College of New Jersey
Division of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
Lodi, New Jersey 07644
COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT
Felician College is an independent co-educational Catholic/Franciscan College founded and
sponsored by the Felician Sisters to educate a diverse population of students within the framework of
a liberal arts tradition. Its mission is to provide a full complement of learning experiences, reinforced
with strong academic and student development programs designed to bring students to their highest
potential and prepare them to meet the challenges of the new century with informed minds and
understanding hearts. The enduring purpose of Felician College is to promote a love for learning, a
desire for God, self-knowledge, service to others, and respect for all creation.
A&S SCHOOL MISSION
The School of Arts and Sciences is committed to promoting the College’s FranciscanFelician mission by providing an environment that fosters the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual
development of our students. The Liberal Arts curriculum challenges students to explore creative
ways of thinking within a broad scope of study that integrates intellectual traditions with essential
values. Our diverse programs encourage students to become lifelong learners and compassionate
contributors to the well-being of others throughout their lives.
Course Syllabus
THEMES IN LITERATURE: CLASSIC TO MODERN (This course has an e-companion)
ENG-302 A
3 credits 4:10-5:25 PM
224 KIRBY HALL
ENG 302 Hon 3 credits 2:35-3:50 PM
334 KIRBY HALL
FALL 2015 M/W
Prerequisites: ENG-102
Course Level: Undergraduate
Mr. David Swartz Adjunct Professor (Department of English)
Available prior to and after class
swartzd@felician.edu
or wocl@aol.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to acquaint students with the continuing relevance of ancient texts and
concepts from the classical Greek and Roman worlds, and the Judeo-Christian tradition, to today’s
society. Students will also examine multiple genres, disciplines, and themes to understand how “great
works” remain in dialogue with one another over time and how the legacy of western thought can be
understood through the prism of contemporary literature. Eng 302 exposes students to the essential
human theme of developing individual identity while exploring the literature of pilgrimage from the
Classical and Modern canons. Students appreciate the theme of the literary pilgrim as a type of hero,
and are able to integrate the relationship between literature and life’s journey—in a Franciscan
context—within their personal journeys.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To examine how literary texts relate to classic and contemporary issues through reflective
discussions and assigned papers.
2. To interpret how the works read reflect diverse cultures, periods, values, and gender.
3. To analyze how the literature studied raises issues of the self, justice, community, culture, and
ethical choices about how to live a worthwhile life. To compare the values embodied in the literature
studied to the Franciscan tradition and values.
4. To develop critical reading, research and writing skills through frequent written work and
participation in class discussions.
By the end of this course, you should be able to exhibit competency in oral and written
communication and demonstrate your ability to think critically and analytically. This class enables
you to sharpen your interpretive skills through the analysis of works in a variety of disciplines. The
class should also heighten your sensitivity to the nuances of linguistic expression.
[It is the instructor’s particular bias that the story of Christ in the Gospels is paradigmatic (a mode, a
model) for the whole of human existence and is reflective of all the works discussed in this course,
Whether in Classical, Renaissance, or even the more recent developments, up to the contemporary.
As such it will be kept in mind and discussed throughout the semester.]
THERE ARE NO REQUIRED TEXTS SINCE EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IS EITHER IN THE PUBLIC
DOMAIN AND CAN BE “GOOGLED” OR ON THE INSTRUCTOR’S WEBSITE: Biblicalfictions.com.
The day a new work comes to be discussed, a single paragraph reaction to it is required of every
student. Attendance and class participation are strictly enforced and are weighed as a third of the final
grade. The paragraphs are an important part of the third.
FINAL GRADE ASSESSED AS:
1/3 attendance and class participation
1/3 final research paper (on Shakespeare’s KING LEAR)
1/3 examinations final and mid-term [date and time to be determined]
SCHEDULE
8/26
Introduction to Course [Tragic Unities; “The Son of Joseph”]
8/31
“The Son of Joseph” From Website (Biblicalfictions.com) Paragraph due
9/2
“The Prodigal Son” From Website Paragraph due
9/7
No class College closed
9/9
“Esther” From Website
9/14
“A Prodigal Son” and “Esther” From Website
9/16
“Gethsemane”
9/21
“A Prodigal Son” “Esther” and “Gethsemane”
9/23
“Oedipus Rex” Googled
Film shown
9/28
“Oedipus Rex” Googled
Film shown
9/30
“Oedipus Rex” Googled
Discussion
10/5
Dante’s
Paragraph due
From Website
“Inferno” Googled
Paragraph due
From Website
Paragraph due
Discussion
Read Summary on SparkNotes
Read summary of Canto XXXIV on Sparknotes
Read Canto XXXIV on Bartleby.com
Paragraph due
10/7
“The Inferno”
Discussion Includes
10/12
Columbus Day
10/14
Dante “The Divine Comedy”
A modern version
Read
From Website
No class
Canto XXXIV
College closed
“A Journal of Prayer”
10/19
Dante
“The Divine Comedy”
10/21
Strauss
“Elektra”
10/26
Strauss
“Elektra” Film in class
10/26
Strauss
“Elektra” Film in class
10/28
Wilde
“Salome”
Vid
“A Journal of Prayer”
Googled Read full text
Project Gutenberg
Googled
Paragraph due
Discussion
(Internet Archive) Paragraph due
Read full text translated by Alfred Douglas
Paragraph due
11/2
Wilde
“Salome”
Excerpts from film
Discussion
11/4
Wilde
“Salome”
Discussion
11/9
Shakespeare
“King Lear”
The film
11/11
Shakespeare
“King Lear”
The film
11/16
Shakespeare
“King Lear”
The film
11/18
Shakespeare Read A. C. Bradley re “King Lear” in Library at desk for Mr. Swartz
Discussion
Paragraph due
Shakespeare Read G. W. Knight re “King Lear” in Library at desk for Mr. Swartz
Shakespeare Read H. Bloom re “King Lear”
11/23
Discussion of Bradley, Knight, and Bloom
11/25-11/27
11/30
in Library at desk for Mr. Swartz
No class
College closed
Discussion of Bradley, Knight, and Bloom
Critique of the three works due
Each work’s critique should include a summary and a reaction of approximately 1.5 to 2 pages.
12/2 Discussion of King Lear in terms of at least two further essays from Academic Search Premier or
the MLA bibliography. Critique due from both.
12/7 RESEARCH PAPER DUE [5 sections to include Bradley, Knight, and Bloom plus the two extra
essays]
GOLGOTHA
and/or
!2/8 READING DAY
JUDAS
From Website
Paragraph omitted
No Work Assigned
12/9 ---------------------- final exams
THE SCHEDULE CAN BE AMENDED OR CHANGED AT ANY TIME TO MAKE ROOM
FOR EXAMS, ADDITIONAL WORK ASSIGNED, OR SPECIFIC CLASS PACE OR NEEDS.