Place: TLC 2237
Time: T,Th 3:30-4:45
Instructor: Dr. Micheal Crafton
Office: TLC 2225 (678-839-6512)
Office hours: T, Th 9-11; And by Appointment
Email: mcrafton@westga.edu
Home page: http://www.westga.edu/~mcrafton/
Learning Objectives
The purpose of this course is to survey literary and/or cultural documents (some of the texts that we are going to read you may not consider as literature) from around the world, starting with some of the earliest extant materials to the modern period, the post-modern period even. Although trying our best to view these documents in a historical and thus political and material context, we will be hard pressed to be very detailed due to the astonishing breadth of this survey. Therefore, given the fact that we will be moving quickly through a lot of cultures, we shall hold to two constants: one, mythology as a grammar for comparative analysis; two, literacy as the fundamental skill of skills that we shall practice.
Evaluation, Assignments, and Grading Procedure
The procedures for evaluations are three: in-class exams; out of class essays; oral presentations.
The in-class exams will consist of a mixture of quotations from the literature studied and some analytical questions relevant to class discussion, questions that in many ways grow out of our in-class discussions.
The out of class essays will be first a two- to three-page typed essay (one-inch margins, 12 pt font) that allows the student to respond to a selection or selections of literature in an individual and more analytical fashion than possible on an exam.
The second paper will be a four- to five-page essay the argument and analysis of which will be supported by a small about of research.
The oral presentations are two. The last one will be a short five-minute presentation on some modern analogue (song, poem, story, movie, artist, cultural happening) to a text(s) that we have studied. These oral reports will be arranged for the final week or so of the quarter. We have set aside three class meetings for these reports, and I expect you to create a PowerPoint presentation for it and to take is seriously, even if finally, it’s a lot of fun.
The first presentation will be a group presentation on a topic related to classroom discussion for that day. The groups will consist of two to three students and each member of the group will make a very brief (three-five minutes) presentation on a topic and then be a resource person on that topic during class discussion.
For more help on writing papers, go here.
Attendance Requirements and Class Protocols
Improving your critical thinking,
analytical writing, and presentation skills requires commitment and
concentrated effort. Therefore, careful preparation and active participation
are crucial to your success in this course. Obviously, you should be present
and on time for all class meetings.
In the case of excused absences, it is your responsibility to make arrangements
with me to complete assignments you have missed immediately upon your return to
class. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a zero or grade
reduction for work not submitted on time. You will not be able to make up
missed in-class assignments or quizzes, and you will not receive credit for
these assignments. If you find it unavoidable to miss class, be
aware of the following guidelines:
a) Four absences are allowed during the course. Every absence thereafter will
result in a one-third letter grade reduction of your final grade in the course,
regardless of the nature of the absence. No distinctions will be made between
excused and unexcused absences.
b) Roll will be taken during every class period at the beginning of class,
although often the form of taking roll will vary. If you arrive late, it is
your responsibility to let me know so you are not counted absent.
c) It is your responsibility to keep up with your absences and late arrivals.
d) You should use your allotted absences wisely. Unplanned or unexpected
occurrences are likely, so be prepared to use absences for these events only.
e) Entering class late and leaving class before it is over will count as an
unexcused absence, unless you have a legitimate medical excuse for doing so.
f) Excessive absences or tardiness from class may result in your administrative
withdrawal from this course with a grade of F.
g) Please turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering class.
h) Please refrain from eating during class.
Classroom Presentations
Throughout the course, you will be expected to complete outside reading and homework
assignments, written and oral classroom presentations, and other classroom
activities. These assignments are designed to reinforce the information
presented in reading assignments and lectures. Classroom presentations will
give you an opportunity to present information to the class for consideration
and discussion. You will not be able to make up presentation assignments that
are missed due to absence from class. Presentations will be assessed on the
basis on organization, clarity, and presentation style. I will provide you with
a list of assignments and guidelines for the presentations as the course
progresses.
The first presentation will be a group effort. I will arrange you in groups of two to four and your group will be given a topic early on in the semester. It will be then the decision of the group to make a presentation that will be helpful to the class for understanding the literature, myth, religion, or historical moment that we are considering at the time. The group can divide the work anyway it wants, but it must be clear to me that everyone is doing an equal share of effort.
The second, individual student presentation will consist of a five- to seven-minute presentation in which the student makes a link between some selection or aspect of the material in the class to some aspect or selection of contemporary culture. The connection can be creative but it must be supported by reasoned analysis of the literature in the class. Connections can be made to contemporary artifacts such as movies, television shows, musical bands, art, video games, and performances.
Midterm and Final Examinations
Examinations will be based on reading assignments, course lectures, and other materials presented in class. For each examination students will be expected to know the major terms and figures, concepts and theories related to the study of the literature that will be presented in reading assignments and course lectures. Consequently, students should be thoroughly familiar with each reading assignment and be prepared to take notes during class. Examinations will include an objective, in-class component (terms, definitions, etc.) and an out of class essay component. Examinations cannot be taken late or scheduled at an alternate time unless you have a serious medical emergency or another legitimate reason for doing so. In the event that such circumstances arise, you must let me know in advance to schedule an alternate time to take the examination. Otherwise, late exams will be marked down one letter grade for each day they are taken late. I will provide you with a study guide prior to each exam.
For more help on exams, click here.
Technology
You need to be familiar with finding sources online and other aspects of
computer technology for this class. I will assist you if you have questions.
Also, information can be found online at the UWG Technology / Surfing Guide:
http://www.westga.edu/~techlife/
Plagiarism & Academic
Dishonesty
UWG defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the words and ideas of
others as they are presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. I expect
that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. An equally
dishonest practice is fabricating sources or facts; it is another form of
misrepresenting the truth. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.
Any student caught submitting materials (in part or whole) as their own work
from online websites will fail the course automatically and be referred to the
Academic Discipline Council. For additional information, please see
http://www.westga.edu/~engdept/Plagiarism
Conferences and Outside
Assistance
I will be glad to meet with you outside of class to discuss your work in this
class, the writing assignments, or the texts we are studying. If you are having
trouble with the material in this class or have questions and/or concerns you
would like to discuss, please set up a time to meet with me.
Assignments and Their Grade Weights
1. Two essays 40%
2. Two Exams 40%
3. Group Report 5%
4. Daily discussion 10%
5. Report on modern 5%
Texts:
Armstrong, Karen. A Short History of Myth.
Mack, Maynard, et al., eds. The
Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces.
Daily Assignments
T 14 Introduction to Course; Brief Discussion of Literature, Myth, and Culture
Th 16 Armstrong Chapter 1 Descent of Inanna (handout, online)
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T 21 Armstrong Chapter 2: Paleolithic Myths: Prehistoric Art: Begin Gilgamesh
Th 23 Armstrong Chapter 3: Continue Gilgamesh
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T 28 Armstrong Chapter 4: Homer, Odyssey Books V and VI
Th 30 Homer, Odyssey Books VII, VIII, IX
Report Topics: Birth of Drama;
Life of Sophocles;
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T 5 Homer, Odyssey Books X, XI, XII
Th 7 Greek Drama: Sophocles, Oedipus Rex pp. 392-415
Report Topics: Pre-Socratic
Philosophy; Plato’s later philosophy; Aristotle; Plato’s school;
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T 12 Greek Drama: Sophocles, Oedipus Rex pp. 415-432
Th 14 Rome: Virgil, Aeneid selections from Books I, IV
Report Topics: Julius Caesar; Augustus Caesar; Gallic Wars; Civil Wars; Punic Wars; Roman education; Roman engineering; Roman political theory; Cicero; Cicero’s “Dream of Scipio”; Quintilian; Marcus Aurelius; Stoicism
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T 19 Virgil, Books VI and VIII and Ovid from Book I
Report Topics: Early Chinese or Indian Writing and Civilization; Moism; Period of Warring States; Confucius and Confucianism; Taoism; Buddhism; Zen; Hinduism; Judaism
Review for Mid-Term
Th 21 Armstrong Chapter 5: Axial Age Religions: Socrates; Confucius, pp. 548-555; Chuang Chou, Taoism, pp. 557-566; Bhagavad-Gita pp. 612-633; Psalms pp. 82-84:
Paper # 1 due
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T 26 Armstrong Chapter 6: New Testament pp. 709-721; Koran Suras 1 and 4;
Report Topics: Early Christian Church; Creation of the Bible; Bible Criticism; Islam; Mohamed;
Th 28 Dante, Divine Comedy pp. 1018-1036
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T 3 Dante, Divine Comedy pp. 1036-1049
Report Topics: Charlemagne; Fall of Rome; Goths; Germanic Tribes; Vikings; Germanic Art; Medieval Art; Feudalism; Courtly Love; Cult of Mary; Allegory; Medieval Political Theory
Th 5 Mid-Term Exam
[Fr 6 Last day to withdraw with a W.]
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T 10 Fall Break: No Classes
Th 12 Armstrong Chapter 7: Early European Modernity: Renaissance
Report Topics: Italian Renaissance; Rabelais; Martin Luther; Machiavelli; Castiglione; Renaissance Art; Renaissance Humanism
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T 17 Hamlet
Th 19 Hamlet
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T
24
Th 26 European Romanticism: Rousseau and Wordsworth
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T 31 European Realism: Tolstoy, “The Death of Ivan Ilyich
Th 2 Tolstoy and Baudelaire
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T 7 Modernism: Kafka, “The Metamorphosis”; Mafouz, “Zaabalawi”
Th 9 Modernism: T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land
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T
14 Post-colonialism:
Th 16 Achebe, Things Fall Apart
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T
21 Post-colonialism:
Th 23 Thanksgiving
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T 28 Student Presentations
Th 30 Last Day of Class; Student Presentations:
F 1 Longer Paper # 2 Due
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Th 7 Final Exam: 2-4:00