Course goals: The student successfully completing this course will be able
to:
--read the texts thoroughly and examine their literary characteristics;
--understand these texts in light of their cultural and intellectual contexts;
--begin to grasp why these literary works still matter today;
--enjoy some of the most wonderful literature ever written.
Your texts: Do not try to substitute other editions of these books.
Molière, Tartuffe (1669), Dramatists Play Service or HBJ
Voltaire, Candide (1759), Dover
Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther (1787), Signet
Flaubert, Madame Bovary (1856), Penguin (trans. Wall)
Baudelaire, Flowers of Evil (1857), Dover
Tolstoy, The Death of Ivan Ilych (1886), Signet
Mann, Death in Venice (1912), Dover
Kafka, “The Metamorphosis” (1915), Dover
Camus, The Fall (1956), Vintage
Beckett, Waiting for Godot (1954), Grove/Atlantic
Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1984), Harper Collins
Poems by Mallarmé, Rilke, Akhmatova (on-line reserve)
Your responsibilities:
A. To read each assignment carefully and come to class prepared to discuss
it.
B. To come to class with texts and to follow along in large and small-group
discussions.
C. To take four tests (essay and identification) on the days scheduled.
Your attendance: I take roll regularly, and I expect regular, prompt attendance. Your grade will be reduced after three absences and after five missed class meetings you will be dropped from the class. This rule does apply to students who added late. Two tardies equal one absence.
Your grades:
Written responses, group and class participation 10%
Reading quizzes 10%
Three tests and one final exam (20% each) 80%
Your honor: All work in this class should be governed by the UNCG Academic Honor Policy. I consider the use of Cliffs Notes or any crib resource a violation of this policy. Any work submitted as your own will receive an F if I find you have used others’ ideas. A second violation will result in an F for the course and subject you to University disciplinary procedures.
Schedule of readings (subject to revision):
*Unless otherwise stated, read the complete text before our first day’s
discussion on it.
8/15 Intro; Tartuffe Enlightenment, Neoclassicism, Rationalism
8/17 Tartuffe (quiz)
8/19 “
8/22 Candide Rationalism
8/24 “
8/26 “
8/29 Werther Romanticism
8/31 "
9/2 “
9/5 Labor Day
9/7 Test 1
9/9 Flowers of Evil Aestheticism, Symbolism
9/12 Flowers cont.
9/14 Bovary pp. 1-53 Aestheticism, Realism
9/16 “
9/19 Bovary pp. 55-185
9/21 “
9/23 “
9/26 Bovary pp. 187-end
9/28 “
9/30 “
10/3 Ivan Ilych Realism, Anticapitalism
10/5 “
10/7 Test 2 (Last day to drop without penalty.)
10/10 Fall break 11/9 Waiting for Godot
10/12 Death in Venice Modernism 11/11 “
10/14 "
11/14 “
10/17 “ 11/16 Unbearable 1-78
10/19 “The Metamorphosis” Modernism, 11/18 “ Postmodernism,
10/21 “ Surrealism Postcommunism
10/24 The Fall Existentialism 11/21 “ 81-240
10/26 “ Thanksgiving holiday
10/28 “
11/28 Unbearable
10/31 Test 3 11/30 “ 243-end
11/2 Modern poetry (see on-line reserve) 12/2 “
11/4 “
12/5 Test 4 (final exam)
11/7 Waiting for Godot Absurdism
4/17 "
4/22 Unbearable Lightness pp. 1-164 (quiz) Postmodernism, Post-Communism
4/24 " "
4/29 Unbearable Lightness pp. 165-end (quiz)
5/1 " "
Test 4 / Final Examination: Thurs. 5/8, 8-11 a.m.