“
All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it. And even
then, on the rare occasions when something opens up within, and the music enters,
what we mainly hear, or hear corroborated, are personal, private, vanishing
evocations. But the man who creates the music is hearing something else, is
dealing with the roar rising from the void and imposing order on it as it hits
the air.”
--James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues”
Texts: Michael Chabon, Wonder Boys
Ann Charters, Ed. The Story and Its Writer 6th Full Edition
Graham Greene, The End of the Affair
Course Description
In this introductory course in literature we will read a variety of short stories, as well as two novels, and explore strategies for the analysis and interpretation of fiction. The semester will be divided among the elements of fiction, culminating in our examination of the two novels. We will pay special attention not only to these elements (point of view, character, plot, setting, language, and style) but also to the cultural contents of the works. We will look past the flesh of the text, its surface, and exam it to its very bones.
Student Learning Goals
At the completion of this course, you should be able to:
1. Identify and understand the basic elements of fiction
2. Apply the techniques of literary analysis to texts
3. Use literary study to develop your skills in close reading and clear writing
4. Demonstrate an understanding of how cultural context impacts meaning
Requirements
Workload
1. Participation in class discussions
2. Three exams
3. Frequent pop quizzes or short assignments
4. One group presentation
5. Final paper (5-8 pages)
Attendance
Since this course depends on a full and lively classroom, we will suffer when seats are empty. Strict attendance is required. Students are expected to attend class on time. I have no patience for tardiness. For every two times you are late, you will receive an unexcused absence. Perfect attendance will be rewarded. After TWO unexcused absences, each subsequent absence will lower your semester grade by as much as a full letter grade. SIX unexcused absences will result in the failure of this course.
Participation
You’re going to have to talk. In order for us to have successful and lively discussions, active participation in class is MANDATORY. Come prepared for the Monday, Wednesday, and Friday discussions; expect weekly quizzes, but expect those to increase in frequency if the majority of the class does not talk. If you are not prepared to read the stories and discuss them openly in class, this is not the course for you.
Paper
You will have two due dates for the final paper: a 1 page prospectus and a final draft of 5-8 pages. The paper should be typed, double-spaced, spell-checked, and proofread. Even though this is not a writing intensive class, I will nevertheless expect a strong standard of mechanical and stylistic proficiency. Good grammar, organization, and clarity are key to good ideas. More specific details to come.
Late Work
I absolutely, positively do not give makeup exams or accept late final papers. Examine the syllabus closely. If you know you will not be present for an exam, let me know immediately and arrangements will be made.
Grades
Semester grades will be computed as follows:
3 Exams: 45%
Presentation: 10%
Final Paper: 20%
Quizzes/ Discussion Participation: 25%
Academic Integrity Policy/ Plagiarism
All work submitted for the course must abide by the Academic Integrity Policy, which is covered in the UNCG Student Handbook and available online. Plagiarism is an extremely serious matter. Do not put me in the position of checking your work line for line, word for word. Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment, as well as possible failure of this course and possible expulsion from the university.
SCHEDULE
*Note: Readings listed beneath each date should be read for that date. All readings are required. The entire novel should be read for the first day of discussion, as we will jump around in the novel rather than move chapter by chapter.
Aug. 15 Introduction, Syllabus
Aug. 17 Ann Charters, “The Elements of Fiction” (p.1739)
Tobias Wolff, “Say Yes” (Blackboard)
Point of View
Aug. 19 Charlotte Perkins Gilman, “The Yellow Wallpaper”
Aug. 22 William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily”
Group Presentation Signup
Aug. 24 Flannery O’Connor, “Everything That Rises Must Converge”
Aug. 26 Edith Wharton, “Roman Fever”
Aug. 29 James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues”
Character and Characterization
Sept. 2 Tobias Wolff, “The Rich Brother”
Sept. 5 Labor Day. No Class.
Sept. 7 Presentation #1: Herman Melville
Melville, “Bartleby, the Scrivener”
Sept. 9 Charles R. Johnson, “Menagerie, a Child’s Fable”
Sept. 12 Anton Chekov, “The Lady with the Little Dog”
Sept. 14 Presentation #2: Raymond Carver
Carver, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”
Sept. 16 Susan Minot, “Lust”
Exam 1 Review
Sept. 19 Exam 1
Plot and Structure
Sept. 21 Edgar Allan Poe, “The Cask of Amontillado”
Sept. 23 Presentation #3: Albert Camus
Camus, “The Guest”
Sept. 26 Flannery O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find”
Sept. 28 John Cheever, “The Swimmer”
Sept. 30 Presentation #4: Tim O’Brien
O’Brien, “The Things They Carried”
O’Brien, “Alpha Company”
Oct. 3 Joyce Carol Oates, “Where Have You Been,
Where Are You Going?”
Setting, Language, and Style
Oct. 5 F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Babylon Revisited”
Oct. 7 Presentation #5: Ralph Ellison
Ellison, “Battle Royal”
Oct. 10 Fall Break
Oct. 12 Raymond Carver, “The Bath”
Raymond Carver, “A Small, Good Thing”
Oct. 14 Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants”
Sandra Cisneros, “The House on Mango Street”
Final Paper/ Prospectus Lecture
Oct. 17 Presentation #6: Shirley Jackson
Jackson, “The Lottery”
Oct. 19 Junot Diaz, “The Sun, the Moon, the Stars”
Oct. 21 Lorrie Moore, “How To Become a Writer”
Margaret Atwood, “Happy Endings”
Exam 2 Review
Oct. 24 Exam 2
Oct. 26 Presentation #7: Graham Greene
Greene, The End of the Affair
Oct. 28 The End of the Affair
Oct. 31 The End of the Affair
Nov. 2 The End of the Affair
Nov. 4 The End of the Affair
Nov. 7 The End of the Affair
Nov. 9 Presentation #8: Michael Chabon
Chabon, Wonder Boys
Nov. 11 Wonder Boys
Nov. 14 Paper Prospectus Due
Wonder Boys
Nov. 16 Wonder Boys
Nov. 18 Wonder Boys
Nov. 21 Wonder Boys
Nov. 23, 25 Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov. 28 Watch Wonder Boys
Nov. 30 Watch Wonder Boys
Dec. 2 Watch Wonder Boys
Exam 3 Review
Dec. 5 Exam 3
5-8 page Final Paper due in my office by 5:00 p.m., Thursday, December 8th.