Literature
of the Western World
English
2332.003
TTh 9:30 – 11 a.m.
Fall
2008
Dr.
David Mead
Welcome
to our survey of significant literary texts (in English translation) from
Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Europe.
The purpose of this course is to help you develop a sound understanding
of some important literary works, to develop a sense of their shaping influence
on the intellectual culture of the western world, and to build reading,
listening, and critical skills.
This
course is part of the University Core Curriculum, and addresses the curriculum
perspectives of “the individual in relation to the larger society and the
world, with emphasis on understanding contrasting views” and “the
principles and ethics that govern human interaction in society and the
production of goods and services.”
The intellectual skills emphasized here are reading, writing, listening,
and critical thinking.
Course Grade. Your course grade will be earned by your performance
on ten graded writing assignments (6% of the course grade for each assignment),
by your attendance and any other quiz grades (10% of course grade), and by your
performance on two exams (each worth 15% of the course grade).
Attendance
is expected but not required; however, attendance is graded. Homework
assignments are due as noted in the syllabus. Late work will not be
accepted unless arrangements have been made in advance. Extra credit assignments may be offered
(such as attending and writing about a relevant artistic performance).
Information about Course Grade Computation: Your
course grade is based on ten in- and out-of-class
essays, on class attendance and quiz grades, and on the mid-term and final
examinations. Altogether, the
essays count 60% of your grade (600 of 1000 points possible; 60 points
each). The exams count 150 points
each. Attendance and quizzes count 10% of the grade, or 100 points (of 1000
possible). To figure this part of your
grade, we count the total number of attendances possible in the course, and the
total number of possible quiz points.
Then we count your number of attendances and your total score on the
quizzes and extra credit (if any). We compute what percentage of the total
possible you earned (your “raw score”), and then we award you that
percentage of the 100 points.
To
compute your point score, we add up your total points on essays (60%), exams
(30%) and quiz/attendance (10%).
Then we make a list of all student grades, from highest total to lowest,
and determine a “curve” from the distribution of scores, modified a
little by the requirement that the lowest passing grade be at least 60% of the
total points possible.
Extra Credit: The professor may offer students opportunities to earn extra quiz points by
performing class-related activities.
Usually these activities will be attending an artistic performance and
writing a reaction-paper about it.
Students may propose such an opportunity, but usually the offer will be made by the professor. In any case, the professor must agree
that the activity is directly related to the study of
literature in the class, and the professor will assign the points at his
discretion. The points earned are added to the student’s total quiz/attendance raw
score.
Make-up Policy: Make-up work may be
given at the discretion of the professor.
Class Lecture and Discussions
will assume you have read the assigned texts carefully. Therefore, read the assigned literature
attentively in advance of class discussion. Take notes as you read, and do any
homework assignments. If you have a question, please bring it to class with you
and share it.
Quiz and Homework Policy:
Short quizzes on basic fact may be given occasionally,
to induce prompt reading of assigned texts. Quizzes will be
given at the beginning of class. Persons who have read the material will
have little trouble passing the quiz. Quiz grades will be
recorded and used in computing the final grade. A missed daily quiz may not be made up.
Office/Hours: My office is FC
288, and my office phone number is 361-825-2360. My campus email address is David.Mead@tamucc.edu . I will hold
office hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9
to 10, and on Tuesday and Thursday after class until noon. Please come during
office hours, or make an appointment.
I have voice mail, so you may leave a message if I'm
not in when you call.
Text books: The Norton Anthology of
Western Literature, ed. Lawall et al.
8th Edition.
Special Notices: 1) The Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all students with disabilities be
guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of
their disabilities. If you believe you have a
disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services
Office at (361) 825-5816 or visit the office in Driftwood 101. 2) If you are majoring, or
planning to major, in an field taught in the
Expectations for Student Behavior: This class will begin
promptly at 9:30 a.m. Please be in
your seat when class begins. If you enter late, enter quietly. The class lasts 75 minutes or until it is dismissed; please wait
for dismissal. Students are expected to come to class on time and stay for the full
period; if you must leave early, please tell the professor before class
begins. Do not schedule work or
other activities which conflict with our
meetings. If you must be absent on some University-related activity, such as a
sports competition, please consult with the Professor before that absence. Absences for sports and campus
activities are not “excused”, so assignments should be turned in
before an absence takes place.
Please
respect the rights of your fellow students and professor to learn and teach in
a positive environment. Don’t chat with your
neighbors while others are addressing the class. Disruptive behavior is not
appropriate and will be sanctioned; courteous
treatment of others is required, and the TAMU-CC Student Code of Conduct will
be observed. Cell phones, pagers, etc. must be turned off or
set to silent signal during class.
If you must take a call, leave the classroom quietly and take it
outside. The use of electronic
devices such as laptop computers, ipods, i-phones, etc. during class for
activities NOT related to class learning will be sanctioned.
Ms.
Andrea Montalvo, my assistant ( amontalvo1@islander.tamucc.edu
), and I look forward to a great semester with you.
David
Mead
Professor
of English
2332.003 Provisional Schedule of Lecture/Discussion Topics
Aug 28 Introduction to Course. View film on Mesopotamian World. Assignment: read the Course Syllabus Carefully. Read “The Ancient World,” Gilgamesh excerpts, and Genesis selections pp. 43 – 46.
Sep 02 Gilgamesh
in-class writing assignment (45 minutes). Discuss Gilgamesh.
04 Discuss Gilgamesh and Genesis selections.
09 The Greek Gods – lecture. Read Homer’s Odyssey, even if you’ve read it before.
11 In-class writing on Homer’s Odyssey, Books 1-4. Begin discussion of Homer’s Odyssey
16 Homer’s Odyssey, Books 5-18
18 Homer’s Odyssey, Books 19-24. Out-of-class writing assignment on Homer’s Odyssey due.
23 Greek Drama lecture. Assignment: read Antigone before the next class.
25 Sophocles, Antigone. In-class writing (#4). Discuss Antigone.
30 Sophocles, Antigone. View film.
Oct 02 Sophocles, Antigone. View film. Assignment: Read Virgil’s Aeneid – all selections.
07 Discuss Virgil’s Aeneid – all selections. Take-home Essay assignment.
09 Discuss Vergil, Aeneid. Homework Essay (#5) due.
14 Discuss Ovid, Metamorphoses – All selections. Please review linked material on webpage.
16 Ovid discussion continues.
21 Mid-Term Examination. Assignment: Read Marie de France: Lanval, Laustic, and Le Fresne (see http://www.english.ufl.edu/exemplaria/fresn.html Download .pdf file.)
23 Marie de France. In-class writing activity (#6) – 45 minutes. Discuss Le Fresne. Assignment: Read Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
28 Discuss Marie de France: Lanval, Laustic, and Le Fresne.
30 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In-class writing activity #7.
Nov 04 Discuss Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Assignment: Read Dante’s Inferno.
06 Dante, Inferno. In-class
writing activity (#8). Discuss Dante
11 Dante, Inferno. Veteran’s Day. Thank a Serviceman.
13 Dante, Inferno.
18 Dante, Inferno. Assignment: Read Everyman (p. 1821 ff.)
20 Everyman. In-class writing activity (#9). Read Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
25 Discuss Hamlet.
27 Thanksgiving
Dec 02 Writing activity on Hamlet (#10)
04 Discuss Hamlet.
09 Discuss Hamlet. Last Class Day.
10 Study Day
Dec 16 Final Examination 8 – 10:30 a.m.