English 201 (World Literature)
One Semester .5 credits
Dual credit course
Concordia University Nebraska
Course Description
English 201 is a general background course in the reading, interpretation, evaluation and criticism of
literature in various genres. This course will focus on works from throughout the world and throughout
time. Students will be exposed to the classics of literature beginning in Ancient Greece and traverse
through time all the way into the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will read, respond, analyze/interpret
and evaluate literature in connection with historic time periods and their own personal experiences.
Goals/Objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will…
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READ
Describe and interpret multiple works of literature that vary in genre, historical and cultural
context
Recognize and refer to various features of literary genres and selected literary terms
Critically analyze and interpret literary texts with other texts and historical and cultural contexts
Research critical essays about literature that integrate sources
Broaden their understanding of the human condition
Be exposed to live plays and film adaptations of the works studied
Increase critical thinking skills through close examination of literature
Increase communication skills through active listening, writing, and discussing
Experience literature as an extension of life experience and appreciate literary study as a means
for intellectual, aesthetic, and personal growth and for fostering creativity and social awareness
Outcomes
Students will..
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READ
Complete typed response papers for each of the assigned works
Participate in class discussions on a daily basis
Lead discussion on selected works via an oral presentation in class
Complete study guides or quizzes as assigned
Complete one major paper 5-7 pages in length about a novel, play, or short story referring to at
least three critical sources.
Use forum posts or chat rooms to utilize social media in discussing various works
Complete two tests and a final exam
Participate in group analysis and discussion
Methods
The instructor will..
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Lecture
Facilitate discussion—individual and group
Utilize film clips
Utilize web sites
Lead reading activities and time
Lead essay writing activities
Lead literary analysis activities
Facilitate vocabulary strengthening exercises
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated on.
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Tests (3) and quizzes/worksheets
30%
Daily participation in discussion (in class and online)
Research paper (in 4th quarter) 20%
Oral presentation
10%
Response papers
20%
20%
As you can see you will be asked to give 100% effort in this class. If you are not prepared to engage in
this task, then perhaps you should drop this course and take calculus, anatomy, physics, or some other
lame class that will NOT prepare you for the rest of your life. If you read, keep up with the in class work,
post a comment on line every once in a while, and think about the works we read and the characters
you meet, you will achieve a decent grade. But, more importantly, you are invited into a community
that critically reads, interprets, discusses, and writes about literature. Each text is transformed by its
readers, taking on new meanings as we experience it, interpret it, analyze its features, or adapt it to
other media sources. Many interpretations are valid if based on consistent evidence from the text.
YOUR interpretations are shaped by who you are, what you have experienced, and what you know.
They become enriched as you gain expertise in literary techniques and greater knowledge of historical
and cultural contexts. You see, significant works of literature and art interpret and question societies
and cultures, illuminating the complexity and diversity of an ever changing world. Your eyes will be
opened to a fascinating world of experiences that will deepen your self-awareness, stimulate your sense
of beauty and wonder, and challenge you to think critically, to question, to respect others, to care, and
finally, to act. Sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it?
So….are we ready to begin? The beauty of this experience for me is that I am allowed the privilege to
take this journey with you. I get to read, interpret, enjoy, and learn along with you. Consider me your
guide as we travel through time, culture, philosophy, religion, and geography in order to broaden our
experiences and learn more about others, but most importantly, look into our own eyes and examine
our own souls. Be careful, you might be surprised at what you may discover.…
A Reading Calendar
The journey begins
Tuesday, Jan. 26th
Why literature? “The Story of an Hour”, “Sir Patrick Spens”
An introduction to literary interpretation
Wed. Jan. 27th
“The Story of an Hour” and “Eveline” Response
Thurs. Jan. 28th
“The Hint of an Explanation” **Response
Fri. Jan. 29th
The journey continues—intro Greek theater pages 11-17
Oedipus pages 69-74
Tues. Feb. 2nd
Wed., Feb. 3th
Oedipus pages 74-80 Watch movie as a start Response
Thurs. Feb. 4th
movie—discussion—Freud and the Oedipus complex
Fri. Feb. 5th
pages 80-88 finish Oedipus
Tues. Feb. 9th
Begin Antigone pages 20-28 Response
Wed.. Feb. 10th
pages Antigone 28-35
Thurs. Feb. 11th
Antigone 35-50
Fri. Feb. 12th
Antigone 50-72
Tues. Feb. 16th
Antigone summary/discussion
Wed. Feb. 17th
TEST Short stories and the Greeks
Thurs. Feb. 18th
Shakespeare’s world—Globe Theater etc. pages 213-221, 226-228, 282-286
Fri. Feb. 19th
Hamlet Act I scenes I, ii, iii pages 287- 293
Tues. Feb. 23rd
Hamlet Act I scene iv and v pages 293-296 response paper due
Wed. Feb. 24th
Act II pages 297- 304
Thurs. Feb. 25th
Act III pages 304-314 questions due
Fri. Feb. 26th
No School
Tues. March 1st
Acts IV pages 314-321 Quiz
Wed. March 2nd
Act V pages 321-329
Thurs. March 3rd
Act V pages Response – to various statements
Fri. March 4th
Student Help Day
Tues. March 8th
Hamlet review/discuss paper options--
Wed. March 9th
Continue review—quotes quiz
Thurs. March 10th
Hamlet Test
Fri. March 11th
Films???
Tues. March 22nd
Begin Paradise Lost Book 1
Wed. March 23rd
Book 1 response
Thurs. March 24th
Act III scenes iii and iv pages 304-314
Fri. March 25th
Tues. March 29th
A Doll’s House
Wed. March 30th
Chapters 5-7 pages 35-63 Quiz 20 pts
Thurs. March 31st
Chapters 8-10 64-88 the end
Fri. April 1st
Tues. April 19
Discussion—of the live play and the book
Wed. April 20
Thurs. April 21
Fri. April 22
Tues. April 26
Wed. April 27
Thurs. April 28
Fri. April 29
Tues. May 3
Wed. May 4
Thurs. May 5
Fri. May 6
Tues. May 10
Wed. May 11
Thurs. May 12
Fri. May 13
The Stanger
Tues. May 17
Wed. May 18-20
Finals…..finally!
A Doll’s House
The 39 Steps
Rebecca
The Stranger
Thurs. April 26th
Fri. April 27th
Act I scenes iv,v pages 293-296 critical analysis article on either Hamlet,
Ophelia, Gertrude, Claudius, Polonius, or Laertes (bonus make up)
Mon. March 3rd
Act II scenes I,ii pages 296-304
Wed. March 5th
Act III pages 304-314
Fri. March 7th
Act IV pages scenes i-v pages 314-319
Mon. March 10th
Act IV scenes vi, vii Act V to completion pages 319-329
Finish study guide sheet..select essay topic on Hamlet
Wed. March 12th
Discussion groups, film continued, leftovers
Fri. March 14th
Begin Crime and Punishment—questions and themes for consideration
SPRING BREAK------------Crime and Punishment
Mon. March 24th
Review/Discuss/Complete Crime and Punishment
Wed. March 26th
C and P
Fri. March 28th
Read 39 Steps 1-40
Mon. March 31st
39 Steps to conclusion
Wed. April 2nd
Catch up
Fri. April 4th
39 Steps
Mon. April 7th
39 steps a discussion
Wed. April 9th
39 Steps the movie
Fri. April 11th
Rebecca—begin reading
Mon. April 14th
Rebecca—through chapter 7 1-77 ***reflection paper on the narrator
Wed. April 16th
Rebecca—through chapter 14 pages 78- 173 discussion ..start movie
Wed. April 23rd
Finish Rebecca……****** reflection paper on the narrator—changes?
Fri. April 25th
The Stranger hand out book…begin reading
SUN April 27
THE PLAY 39 Steps
Mon. April 28th
Reflections on the play
Wed. April 30th
Existentialism 24-59
Fri. May 2nd
The Stranger discussion
Mon. May 5th
Discussion--reaction
Wed. May 7th
Waiting for Godot
Fri. May 9th
Waiting for Godot
Mon. May 12th
Endgame
Wed. May 14th
??
Fri. May 16th
Final wrap up—loose ends
The Stranger pages 61-123
Mon. May 19th
Review