St.
Thomas University
Prof. Dawn Morgan
Dept. of English Language and Literature
Fall/Winter Term 2004-2005
Introduction
to Literature
M W 3:30 p.m.
Room TBA
Office:
ECH 122
Tel: 452-0431
Email: dmorgan@stu.ca (Always use "1006F" in the subject
line of email.)
Office hours: MW 2-3 p.m. or by appointment
Introduction to Literature
This
course will emphasize the close interpretive reading of texts from
the major genres of literature - poetry, drama, and prose fiction
- and the ability to discuss the results in written assignments that
follow the conventions of the academic essay. The texts selected range
chronologically from the roots of our literature in classical antiquity
to contemporary Canadian writing. Throughout the course, attention
will be given to the role of genre in the literary process.
The first term introduces dramatic, verse, and prose narrative in
cultural cornerstone works by Sophocles, John Milton, Alexander Pope,
Daniel Defoe, and Emily Brontë. The prose narrative "book-ends"
of the second term are Marilynne Robinson's lyrical Housekeeping
and William Gibson's cyberpunk Neuromancer. In between, we
examine the historical roots and development of the dramatic monologue
in works by Andrew Marvell, Robert Browning, and T.S. Eliot and go
on to read book-length dramatic verse narratives by the late twentieth-century
Canadian writers Andrew Suknaski, Mary di Michele, and Stephanie Bolster.
Required
Texts:
Sophocles,
Oedipus the King
Hamilton, Mythology (optional)
Milton, Samson Agonistes
Pope, "The Rape of the Lock" and "The Key to the Lock"
Defoe, Journal of the Plague Year
Brontë, Wuthering Heights
Robinson, Housekeeping
Bolster, White Stone
Di Michele, Mimosa
Gibson, Neuromancer
Course
Pack: Defoe, "A True Relation…," Suknaski, Wood
Mountain Poems (selections), Marvell, "To His Coy Mistress,"
Browning, "My Last Duchess," T.S. Eliot, "The Lovesong
of J. Alfred Prufrock."
A
college-level dictionary and a writing handbook of MLA style.
Attendance
and Participation:
Students are expected to attend every class on time, with the assignment
read, and thoughtful comments or questions in mind. Recurrent absence,
late arrival, and early departure from class will diminish the 10
% participation grade. Six absences without a doctor's note or equivalent
will result in failure in the course.
Assignments and Evaluation:
Students will be required to write one essay per term (approx. 1,000
words), a December exam on the first term work, and a final April
exam that will emphasize the second term work but may ask students
to draw on first term reading as well. The exams will be open book,
exclusive of course notes, and will consist of short and long essay
questions. The essay due in the second term will have a required research
component tied to the class visit to the library in early March. Details
will be announced in class.
In addition to these formal assignments, students will be required
to write four one-page response papers (typed, double-spaced) during
each of the two terms. Response papers will not be individually graded
but all must be submitted in order to receive a grade out of 15. I
may comment on spelling, grammar, correct use of appropriate vocabulary,
quotation and citation method, overall coherence and the relevance
of your response. Students are encouraged to use the response papers
to test ideas for possible use later in course essays and exams.
The
breakdown of marks for assignments is as follows:
| Participation: |
10
% |
| Midterm
Essay #1 (due Wednesday, October 13): |
15
% |
| December
Exam (scheduled Dec 10 at 2 p.m.) |
15
% |
| Midterm
Essay #2 (due Wednesday, February 9): |
15
% |
| Final
April Exam (scheduled April 15, 2 p.m.): |
30
% |
| Response
Papers (one page each): |
15
% |
| Term
I: Due Sept 29, Oct 25, Nov 10, Nov 29 |
|
| Term
II: Due Jan 17, Feb 2, Mar 2, Mar 23. |
|
Submission
of assignments:
A paper will not be considered late as long as it is turned in by
5 p.m. on the day it is due, provided that the student comes to class
that day. A paper's point total will be reduced by one point for each
day it is late. Extensions may be granted provided that arrangements
are made outside of class time and before the
paper is due. Papers over one week late or submitted after
the last day of classes may not be accepted.
Papers must be typed in 12-point font size and double-spaced with
one-inch margins at the top, bottom, and both sides. Pages must be
numbered and stapled. These and other specifications are outlined
in the MLA style manual.
Late response papers may not be accepted. No papers will be accepted
by fax or email. Please do not bind essays or response papers in plastic.
Plagiarism and Cheating:
Consult the St. Thomas University calendar, pages 244 and following,
for definitions and procedures.
Provisional
Schedule of Readings and Lectures:
Term
I:
| M |
Sept
13 |
Introduction to the course and course materials. |
| W |
Sept
15 |
Dramatic Narrative. Background to ancient drama from Hamilton,
Mythology, Ch.1-2 on the Dionysian rites.
Introduction to Sophocles'Oedipus the King |
| M |
Sept
20 |
Tragic Drama: Oedipus the King cont'd |
| W |
Sept
22 |
cont'd |
| M |
Sept
27 |
cont'd |
| W |
Sept
29 |
Response #1 due. Dramatic narrative without theatre: John
Milton,
Samson Agonistes |
| M |
Oct
4 |
cont'd |
| W |
Oct
6 |
cont'd |
| M |
Oct
11 |
Thanksgiving. No class. |
| W |
Oct
13 |
Verse Narrative. Mock epic and social satire: Alexander Pope,
"The Rape of the Lock." Midterm Essay #1 due. |
| M |
Oct
18 |
cont'd |
| W |
Oct
20 |
cont'd |
| M |
Oct
25 |
cont'd
Response #2 due. |
| W |
Oct
27 |
Prose Narrative: fact and fiction. Daniel Defoe, Journal of
the Plague Year |
| M |
Nov
1 |
cont'd |
| W |
Nov
3 |
cont'd |
| M |
Nov
8 |
cont'd |
| W
|
Nov
10 |
Response #3 due. Defoe, "A True Relation of the Apparition
of One Mrs. Veale." |
| M |
Nov
15 |
Prose Narrative: the gothic and Romantic tale. Emily Brontë,
Wuthering Heights |
| W |
Nov
17 |
cont'd |
| M |
Nov
22 |
cont'd |
| W |
Nov
24 |
cont'd |
| M |
Nov
29 |
cont'd. Response #4 due. |
| W |
Dec
1 |
Review and prep for end of term exam |
| |
|
|
| |
|
End
of Term I Exam December 10, 2 p.m. |
Term
II:
| M |
Jan
3 |
Marilynne Robinson, Housekeeping |
| W |
Jan
5 |
cont'd |
| M |
Jan
10 |
cont'd |
| W |
Jan
12 |
cont'd |
| M |
Jan
17 |
cont'd. Response #5 due. |
| W |
Jan
19 |
Dramatic
Narrative Verse. Literary antecedents of the dramatic
monologue. Andrew Marvell, "To His Coy Mistress." |
| M |
Jan
24 |
Robert Browning, "My Last Duchess" |
| W |
Jan
26 |
cont'd |
| M |
Jan
31 |
T.S. Eliot, "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock" |
| W |
Feb
2 |
cont'd. Response #6 due. |
| M |
Feb
7 |
Mary di Michele, Mimosa |
| W |
Feb
9 |
cont'd. Midterm Essay #2 due. |
| M
|
Feb
14 |
Andrew
Suknaski, Wood Mountain Poems, selections |
| W |
Feb
16 |
cont'd |
| M |
Feb
21 |
Stephanie Bolster, White Stone: The Alice Poems |
| W |
Feb
23 |
cont'd |
| M |
Feb
28 |
cont'd |
| W |
Mar
2 |
Response #7 due. Library visit. Details tba. |
| M |
Mar
7 |
Mid-term break. No class. |
| W
|
Mar
9 |
Mid-term break. No class. |
| M |
Mar
14 |
William Gibson, Neuromancer |
| W |
Mar
16 |
cont'd |
| M |
Mar
21 |
cont'd |
| W
|
Mar
23 |
cont'd. Response #8 due. |
| M |
Mar
28 |
Easter Monday. No class. |
| W |
Mar
30 |
Neuromancer cont'd |
| M |
Apr
4 |
cont'd |
| W |
Apr
6 |
Final class meeting. Review and preparation for second term exam. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Final
Exam April 15, 2 p.m. |
A
final note
on email correspondence:
Please reserve email correspondence with the Instructor to emergency
or otherwise pressing circumstances. Let's try to use class time and
my office hours to communicate as much as possible. Due to the volume
of email I receive, if you do send me an email, please put the course
number, "1006F," in the subject line. A response may take
up to two days.