English 2111: World Literature I: Monsters & Heroes
Spring 2014
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 2111, World Literature I, 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 believe you are eligible for a disability accommodation, please call the campus A.D.A. coordinator at (678) 359-5326.
No accommodation can be made without a memo from that office.
Course Content:
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., 3rd ed., Ed. M. Puchner. New York:
Norton, 2013.
Various texts accessed via the internet/handout
Grading:
Class participation/quizzes/attendance
Homework/mini projects
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 caseby-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 we have read this semester, but for this assignment you will also include
the views of scholars on the subject (ie secondary research). The paper must be a minimum of 1200 words (not including
works cited). MLA format is required for in-text citations and works cited page.
Your exams will include some “objective” questions (e.g. identifying quotations, fill in the blank, fact recall); they
will mostly be short answer essay and one-two long essay 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); check the website or talk to fellow
classmates for anything missed – do not write me and asked if you “missed anything important.” Every class we cover
important material. It is your responsibility to read your syllabus and contact your classmates. If you are in class – even if
you missed a previous class - you will be expected to take the quiz. Being absent and claiming “I didn’t know” does not
excuse you from any missed work.
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
W, 1/8
Intro to class; Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey”
M, 1/13
Cohen “Seven Theses”
Gilgamesh, Tablet I-V, p. 33-62
Homework: Seven Theses
W, 1/15
Gilgamesh, Tablet V-end, p. 62-88
M, 1/20
MLK Day: No class
W, 1/22
Article: Wolff, “Gilgamesh, Enkidu, and the Heroic Life”
Hebrew Bible, Genesis, Man’s fall and the murder of Abel (3-4); Noah and the Flood (6-9), p. 96-103
Homework: Wolff’s article
M, 1/27
Homer, The Iliad, p. 121-178
W, 1/29
Homer, The Odyssey, Book IX, p 271-283, X, PG. 285 (line 114)-296, XII, 312-322
Homework: Homer
M, 2/3
Homer cont.
W, 2/5
Sophocles, Oedipus the King, p. 481-525
M, 2/10
Euripedes, Medea, p. 528-564
Homework: Oedipus or Medea
W, 2/12
Ovid, Metamorphoses, Apollo and Daphne (655-658); Jove and Io (659-665); Philomela (handout)
M, 2/17
Virgil, Aeneid, Book II (p. 598-620), Book IV (p. 620-641)
W, 2/19
Test #1 review
M, 2/24
Test #1
W, 2/26
Valmiki, Ramayana, p. 686-726
M, 3/3
Sita Sings the Blues (film)
W, 3/5
Bhagavad-Gita, p. 726-746
Homework: Ramayana and Bhagavad-Gita
M, 3/10 &
W, 3/12
Spring break – no class
M, 3/17
Thousand and One Nights, p. 1173-1197
Confucius, Analects, p. 770-780
W, 3/19
Ferdowsi, Shahnameh, p. 963-985
Homework: 1001, Confucius, or Shahnameh
M, 3/24
Sunjata, p. 1514-1543
W, 3/26
Sunjata, p. 1543-1576
Homework: Sunjata
M, 3/31
Test #2 review
W, 4/2
Test #2
M, 4/7
Beowulf, p. 885-908, 922-931
W, 4/9
Beowulf, p. 934 (Queen Modthryth section), 940-960
Tolkien, The Monsters and the Critics (sections – handout)
Homework: Beowulf
M, 4/14
Marie de France, Bisclavret (handout)
W, 4/16
Dante, The Inferno, specific Cantos
Research Paper due
M, 4/21
Dante, Inferno, cont.
Homework: The Inferno
W, 4/23
Europe and the new world: Columbus’ letter, 1921; Cortes’ letter, 1926; Conquest of
Mexico, 1937
M, 4/28
overflow day
W, 4/30
Final exam review