CRITICAL APPROACHES TO LITERATURE: SPRING SEMESTER 2015
INSTRUCTOR: Ms. Christine Ney
PHONE: 285-7463
OFFICE HOURS:
MON: 1:00—4:00 MON EVENING: 6:30—7:30
THURS: 11:30—2:00
OFFICE: B009D
EMAIL: cney@bsu.edu
TUES: 11:30—1:00, 4:00—6:00
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students in this literary criticism course will study works of literature that
lend themselves to evaluation according to the archetypal (Jungian) approach and
to the psychoanalytical (Freudian) approach. Integrating Jungian and Freudian psychology
with the study of great works of literature, students will do case studies of
characters who traditionally have been associated with such terms as alter ego,
double, shadow, persona, collective unconscious, id, ego, super ego, oedipus complex,
etc. Much of the course leans toward the Jungian approach and the id, ego, and super-ego
aspects of Freud’s theories; however one cannot study the Freudian approach without
associating his sexual theories with the literature, and while the class will not be dwelling on
these theories, some major works of literature definitely lend themselves to sexual analyses.
Students will need to approach the sexual content of Freud’s theories with maturity and
intellectuality, and if a student feels that he/she cannot do this or thinks that the material
will be too offensive, the teacher strongly suggests that this student drop the course.
OBJECTIVES
1. To provide students with an interdisciplinary experience where they are
analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating literature according to psychological
principles. Students will also encounter other disciplines such as philosophy,
art, anthropology, theology, and sociology in their analysis.
2. To trace broad-based themes through the literature studied by examining
archetypes and archetypal patterns.
3. To provide students with various means of evaluation to address their
individual differences.
4. To enable students to express their passions or talents through creative projects
that are student initiated and developed.
5. To provide students with the study of characters from great works of literature
whose psychological cases serve as examples from which students can learn.
6. To provide a relaxed, student-focused environment where discussions flow
freely and openly, and arguments are substantiated by textual evidence.
TEXTS:
HANDBOOK OF CRITICAL APPROACHES TO LITERATURE
THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT, Bethelheim
THE TAO AND MOTHER GOOSE: Myth and Meaning
in Nursery Rhymes
MEETING THE SHADOW—Ed. Connie Zweig
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE—Stevenson
A DOLL’S HOUSE—Ibsen
FRANKENSTEIN—Shelley
FAUST, Part I
PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY—Wilde
WINESBURG, OHIO—Anderson
“The Metamorphosis”—Kafka
LORD OF THE FLIES—Golding
HEART OF DARKNESS—Conrad
DEMIAN—Hesse
BELOVED—Morrison
METHODS OF EVALUATION
1. Discussion (individual and group); 200 PTS
2. quizzes PTS. WILL VARY
3. Tests and in-class essays 100 PTS EACH
4. Papers 100--200 PTS EACH
5. Projects and presentations 100--200 PTS EACH
6. CREATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS 100—200 PTS
GRADING SCALE:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
C
94% - 100
90% - 93.9%
87% - 89.9%
84% - 86.9%
80% - 83.9%
77% - 79.9%
74% - 76.9%
70% - 73.9
SCHEDULE OF READINGS SPRING 2015
1/6: TUES.
Intro to course, texts, assignments, policies;
Joseph Campbell: The Power of Myth: “Part I: Journey of the Hero”
Assign: Handbook of Critical Approaches: “The Psychological
Approach” and “ The Archetypal Approach”
And first 75 pages of TAO AND MOTHER GOOSE
1/8: THURS.
Discuss “Archetypal and Psychological Approach to Literature”
Assign chapters from USES OF ENCHANTMENT
DISCUSS FIRST HALF OF TAO AND MOTHER GOOSE
1/13 TUES.
FINISH TAO AND MOTHER GOOSE
1/15: THURS.
USES OF ENCHANTMENT presentations: articles
Assign archetypal story
1/20 TUES.
USES OF ENCHANTMENT presentations: fairy tales
1/22: THURS.
MEETING THE SHADOW: Part I
1/27: TUES.
MEETING THE SHADOW: Part II and III
1/29: THURS.
OBJECTIVE TEST
2/3: TUES.
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
2/5: THURS
A DOLL’S HOUSE: Act I
Archetypal stories due
2/10: TUES
A DOLL’S HOUSE: ACTS II and III
2/12 TUES.
FRANKENSTEIN: 1—100
2/17: MON.
FRANKENSTEIN: 100--end
2/19 THURS
WINESBURG, OHIO: “Hands,” “Paper Pills,” “Respectability,”
“Teacher”
TAKE-HOME TEST DISTRIBUTED
2/24: TUES.
Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” and articles
2/26: THURS
CATCH-UP
TAKE-HOME TEST DUE IN CLASS
SPRING BREAK
3/10: TUES.
FAUST: up to “Witch’s Kitchen” FAUST
(ASSIGN PAPER)
3/12: THURS.
FAUST: finish book : In-class project
3/17: TUES.
DORIAN: Chs. 1--8
3/19: THURS.
DORIAN: Chs. 9--end DORIAN
3/24: TUES.
DEMIAN: Beginning up to “Beatrice”
3/26: THURS.
DEMIAN: “Beatrice”—end
3/31: TUES.
Review psychological approach: Id, ego, super-ego
LORD OF THE FLIES: Chs. 1 through 5
4/2 THURS.
LORD OF THE FLIES: Chs. 6—end
4/7 TUES.
HEART OF DARKNESS: Part I
4/9: THURS.
HEART OF DARKNESS: Part II--end
PAPER DUE
4/14: TUES.
BELOVED: 1-105
4/15: WED . EVENING: Film: Apocalypse Now
(IF YOU ARE NOT 18, YOU WILL NEED TO BRING A PERMISSION NOTE
FROM YOUR PARENTS. FILM RATED R DUE TO VIOLENCE)
4/16: THURS.
BELOVED: 106—165
4/21: TUES.
BELOVED: 169—275
4/23: THURS.
CATCH-UP
4/28: TUES.
4/30 THURS.
CREATIVITY DAY: Bring supplies: markers, crayons, colored pencils,
IN-CLASS ESSAY
FINALS 4/4—4/8
FINAL EXAM: Creative project and presentation:
This is a semester project that should not be started at the end of the
semester. You should be thinking about and planning this project throughout
the duration of the course.
Students will portray ideas, theories and aspects of literature studied in the
class through a self-initiated creative project exemplifying how these ideas are
evident in other mediums: song, dance, art, photography, drama, etc. The
projects will be presented to the class on exam day. Project ideas need to be
approved by Ms. Ney
GRADE: Creativity : 100 pts.
Uniqueness, originality
Quality of materials,
Thoughtfulness
Content: 100 pts.
Portrayal of Shadow, Jungian and/or Freudian principles
Depth of thought
Quality of presentation: speech, clarity, preparation
PLEASE PROCEED TO THE NEXT FEW PAGES FOR CLASS POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES. MAKE SURE YOU READ THESE, A GRADE COULD DEPEND ON
WHETHER YOU COMPLETELY READ THIS MATERIAL!
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: 2015
MS. NEY’S CLASSES
These policies and procedures are important because they are there to prepare you for what is going to help
you now, in college, and much later in life. You may expect to be treated as a young adult in my classes. I do
not pamper you or coddle you just because you are away from home (On the other hand, I am here if you
need me and am willing to listen to you if you have a problem. I also enjoy having you drop in during office
hours just to chat.). You are at the Academy because you and your parents obviously thought you could
handle the residential and rigorous academic environment. These policies are to encourage you to act like
mature and responsible students—students who will remain at the Academy for more than part of a
semester.
THE SYLLABUS ASSIGNMENTS
You are personally responsible for following the syllabus. There are going to be times when you will
not be reminded by the teacher of what is due for the next class. Please keep a copy of your syllabus on your
computer and/or in your notebook (whatever works best for you).
ATTENDANCE
1. It is of extreme importance that you attend class regularly. Not only is part of your grade dependent
upon your participation in discussion, but other class members and the teacher want and need to hear
your ideas. Don’t rely on others to carry the discussion; indicate that you have read the material by
participating in discussion and citing passages. Written quizzes are not given daily, but your
contributions to daily and group discussions are noted for the grade you will receive at the end of the
semester. Excessive absence will affect this final discussion grade unless there are unusual
circumstances surrounding your case.
2. Sleeping in class will be counted as an absence.
3.
If you know that you are going to be absent prior to your absence, please inform the teacher and be
sure to hand in any assignment that is due while you are gone before you leave. You are responsible for
material that was covered in your absence so please see a reliable student for notes or information you
missed.
4.
You cannot be absent on the day you are scheduled to present an oral project to the class because there
is not enough time in the schedule for rescheduling; your only option is to find someone to switch
presentation times with you.
5.
If you are absent on the day of a test, please see the teacher as soon as possible about making up that
test. You should plan on making it up within 2 days. If you are absent for more than one test, you need
to see the teacher about your absences.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignments must be handed in at the time and date specified. If you turn it in late to Ms. Ney’s mailbox,
you need to see a teacher to date it, put the time on it, and sign it in order to confirm the time on which it
was handed in. POINTS ARE DEDUCTED FROM LATE PAPERS ACCORDING TO HOW LATE
THEY ARE. A PAPER ONE DAY LATE WILL GO DOWN AN ENTIRE LETTER GRADE. Field
trips, computer problems, absence from class, sudden illness, imaginative disasters etc. will not suffice as
excuses. Please see Ms. Ney only if there are very special circumstances surrounding the lateness (eg.
long term illness). She will determine whether or not the grade will be lowered. Don’t wait until the last
minute to begin a semester project! Students who are consistently late with assignments need to see Ms.
Ney after the second late assignment occurs.
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES—NEY
2
CLASS DISCUSSION: (This grade involves more than just talking in class)
Your grade for both CLASS and GROUP discussion is determined by the following:
1. Answering questions clearly and thoughtfully in both group and class discussions.
2. Citing textual evidence to support ideas in class or group discussion.
3. Generating your own ideas without monopolizing the discussion or attacking someone personally
4. Listening to other students and responding to their ideas by using their names; agreeing or
disagreeing with them; and adding or connecting or expanding on their ideas.
5. Focusing on the question on the floor or handout and not digressing into long semi-unrelated
topics. This also includes group discussions where totally straying away from the question is even
more likely to happen.
6. Respecting the person who has been recognized as speaker.
Side conversations are not only rude to the speaker, but they are distracting to others.
Raise your hand to speak. (On occasion this will not hold true, and we will lapse into open
discussion. This usually happens when the discussion dynamic changes and raising hands
deters a rapidly moving and exciting discussion. However, never raising your hand and
always blurting out answers is not only annoying, but is inconsiderate of other class
members who deserve the right to speak as much as you do.
BALL STATE AND THE ACADEMY ARE VERY CONSIDERATE OF PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED
STUDENTS. PLEASE NOTIFY MS. NEY IF THERE ARE SPECIAL NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE SO
THAT ACCOMODATIONS CAN BE MADE FOR YOU.
LIKEWISE, MS. NEY HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AS A VISUALLY IMPAIRED TEACHER. PLEASE READ
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY.
WRITTEN WORK:
1.
All papers turned in to Ms. Ney should be word processed using standard margins (as specified in
MLA), with Times New Roman as a font and in 12 pt. BOLD. I am visually impaired and need to have
you BOLD EVERYTHING you turn in to me (Incidentally, because of my visual handicap I cannot read
the buttons on the VCR or DVD and will need your help when showing films).
2.
Any work done in class that is handwritten should be neat, legible, and written in or black ink on good
paper (without ragged edges) Because of my visual handicap, I need to ask you to use a black medium
ballpoint pen or (even better) a Pilot black fine point pen.
3.
E-Mails: Please send them to me in 12—14 pt. BOLD in good grammatical form. Do not use text
language. Please do not show me material on your computer screen. I can’t read it.
4.
The official humanities style manual is The Modern Language Association style manual (MLA) ALL
PAPERS FOR ENGLISH CLASSES SHOULD BE PREPARED IN THE MLA STYLE. Directives are
in A Writer’s Reference, your official Academy handbook.
5.
Written work should be PROOFREAD not just spell— checked. Please correct both printing and
mechanical errors before handing in the paper. It goes without saying that you should be using good
grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Your grade will be lowered if you do not edit or proofread. I am
fond of giving extra points or subtracting them because of style.
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES—NEY
3
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM POLICIES
( ACADEMY HANDBOOK POLICY will be enforced so please read it again.)
Cheating of any sort will result in an F on the assignment and, depending on the severity of the situation,
a possible F in the class.
PLAGIARISM will result in an F on the assignment, and, depending on the severity of the situation, a
possible F in the class or suspension. NEW POLICY: ALL PAPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO
THE TEACHER ELECTRONICALLY FOR POSSIBLE PLAGIARISM CHECKS.
DIRECT PLAGIARISM:
--copying word-for-word from a source without using quotation marks and citing the
source
--copying partially from a source (patchwork plagiarism)
--copying someone else’s paper or part of someone else’s paper
--pirating papers off the network or elsewhere
--using criticism online without acknowledging it
--taking credit for another person’s idea
INDIRECT PLAGIARISM:
--inaccurate footnoting;
DO NOT USE SPARK NOTES (or any other types of notes except your own or scholarly literary
criticism) in place of reading the assigned work.
--This is a form of cheating
--If you don’t read the books, you are not going to be able to do the
papers or cite passages in class (an indication of having read)
-- It is very obvious to the teacher as to which students have read the book and
which students haven’t. You aren’t fooling anyone. This is an excellent way
to lose the respect of both your teacher and your peers.
--Details needed for quizzes and test will also escape you in the short and long run.
--Most importantly, you are depriving yourself of reading something wonderful--a
significant work written in the author’s style. You cannot substitute a writer’s
work of art with a plot outline.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Please be mindful of the fact that many of you came to the Academy to escape
environments where classroom behavior was less than desirable.
1.
YOU MUST BRING YOUR TEXT TO CLASS
This is a literature class and your arguments need to be supported with textual evidence. This also
enables the teacher to give you credit for reading the assignment if there is no quiz. If you don’t cite
passages, it is a good indication that you did not read the material.
2.
I choose to create a comfortable, safe, learning environment for you. My students should feel free
to express themselves openly and honestly without fear of being wrong or being criticized personally
by anyone in the class. If you are experiencing any problem with this, please see Ms. Ney personally.
Ideas are subject to being attacked, but the person expressing the idea has that right to do so freely.
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Cont. –NEY
4
3.
I do not use sarcasm when speaking to you, and I don’t expect you to use it with me or with
each other. Students with “attitudes” will not be tolerated. Kindness, respectfulness, good
manners and humor are much more appealing personal characteristics, and it is
unbelievable how far “please,” “thank you” and demonstrations of other good mannerly
conduct will take you in life . Take a look at the categories teachers are asked to check
when filling out the Common Ap for your college recommendations. Also, I have
been on scholarship committees where this was the deciding factor between two students
who were alike in all the other categories. Competition is fierce these days when it comes to
awarding money and every aspect of you is taken into consideration.
4.
You are permitted to bring drinks into the classroom and eat your sack lunch if you have no lunch
period, but please do not disturb the class with whatever is in your lunch. If this room is declared a
nut-free environment, no food will be permitted in classroom. Please remember to put your refuse
in the garbage when you are finished.
5.
I want to see your faces in class; please don’t hide them behind your laptop lid.
I also don’t appreciate seeing the bottoms of your shoes (please don’t put feet up on the
tables or desks).
LAPTOP POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1. Laptop use will not be permitted during class unless the teacher gives an assignment where it is
necessary to use it. Likewise, there will be no cell phone use or texting during class. This will
result in an F on your test or essay if this is done at that time. You are required to have the
assigned texts with you each day.
2.
You should carry your laptop with you to class each day. Occasionally, I will ask you to look up
material on the internet or even to look up a word. There will be days when you will be told that
you MUST have your laptop with you for use during class. Please be responsible about bringing
them and having in working condition.
3.
Not turning in an assignment on the due date because of computer or printer will not count as an
excuse for lateness. You know that various floors have printer problems so finish your
assignment with enough time to find a working printer. There are printers in the Burris library
as well as at Bracken.
4.
The Internet is a wonderful source of information when used properly. Scholarly sources are
available on data bases mentioned in your library tour. When using sources from the Internet,
you must evaluate the credibility of the information before using it All materials found on the
Internet must be properly documented like any other sources of information to avoid plagiarism.
If you are unsure of whether an internet source is acceptable for use in a certain assignment, be
sure to ask your teacher. I will accept some scholarly internet articles, but they need to be
approved before you can use them in formal research. The policy will vary in Ms. Ney’s classes
according to the specific assignments.
5.
When writing essays, save and name all drafts. You may be asked for drafts with your final
draft in order to see how the piece has improved.
CLASS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Cont.—NEY
5
VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING HARD COPIES OF TESTS:
When you take an in-class test on the computer, you are required to e-mail it to me before you
leave the classroom so that I know you have not made any changes between the class time and when
I get the hard copy. You are then responsible for putting a hard copy in my mailbox so that I do not
have to print out every paper. The problem that arose last year is that students were not
responsible in handing in the hard copy of their test on the day the test was taken (and sometimes
entirely forgot to do so until the end of the grading period). I eventually had to establish the
following policy: YOU MUST GET THE HARD COPY TO ME ON THE DAY OF THE TEST
OR YOU WILL BE PENALIZED BY DEDUCTION OF POINTS FOR EACH DAY LATE!
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING READ THE INFORMATION ON THE SYLLABUS
INCLUDING THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDUDRES. PLEASE E-MAIL Ms. Ney stating that you have
read and that you understand the above policies. You do not want to suffer any type of penalization such as
loss of points, grade reduction, or suspension due to failing to follow these procedures.