The School of Humanities Presents

World Literature II

ENG3113 / Sec. 1
Credit: 3 Hours /  FO 221
Spring 2008/ Tuesday Thursday.
Time:  3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Instructor: Dr. Anderson M. Rearick III

Dr. Rearick's Office: Founders Hall 219C
(Within 219: School of Humanities Suite)

Joyce Applegarth School Secretary Ext. 3500

Office Hours: 
Office Hours: Daily 8:00-10:20, M-W-F 1:50-2:50, T-Th 12:40 -2:50 or by appointment
Office Ext. 3508
Home Phone 392-3738
(but please do not call after 8:00--Andy and Laura are hopefully in Bed)
email: anderson.rearick@mvnu.edu

Home Phone 392-3738 (but please do not call after 8:00-- Andy and Laura are hopefully in Bed)
Office Ext. 3508

Joyce Applegarth Secretary for the School of Humanities Ext. 3500

email: arearick@mvnu.edu

             Please Make a Daily Habit of Checking Your E-Mail for Messages Concerning This Class Too

Please Note: What you hold is a hard copy of a web document accessible by any computer with internet access. The index units below, showing this document's parts, are not only a sort of organizing table of contents but are on the web  links to the indicated parts of this syllabus.  While the basic plan of this class is established, fine tuning as well as added resources may not be included in this printed version. I will announce alterations to the syllabus in class.   Still, student are encouraged to check the actual web site regularly.

Course Index:

• Course Description

• [procedure] [texts] [tools] [objectives] [evaluation] [grading scale] [tests] [midterm and final exam]  [attendance] [participation] [Discussion][paper][exercises] [disability needs] [extra credit] [Lit. on the Web]

• Class Schedule

• [Week One] [Week Two] [Week Three][Week Four][Week Five][Week Six][Week Seven][Week Eight][Week Nine][Week Ten][Week Eleven][Week Twelve][Week Thirteen][Week Fourteen][Week Fifteen]

Course Description:

The purpose of ENG. 3113, World Literature II, is to expose students to a global vision of the human mind involved in the universal art of storytelling.  ENG3113 World Literature II [3].  is, according to the current catalogue, a "survey of literary classics from the Romantic through the post modern periods Prerequisite: ENG153G."  This description is incomplete.  ENG 3113 will cover works from the age of reason and will include various genres by Western and non-Western writers (China, Japan, India, the Middle East, and Africa).  A review of the Norton text will show that both American and English authors are included.  However because of American Literature I and II (ENG 3073  & 3083) and British Literature I and II (ENG 3003 & 3013) works this class will emphasize a non-English speaking cannon.  Believe me there is still plenty to cover..   

Class Procedure:

ENG. 3113, World Literature II, will meet two times a week to assimilate lectures about and to discuss the development of literature from a global perspective. One of the fundamental concerns for this class will be the comparison of our Western "Bible shaped" (we hope) world views with other cultures. Also we will be spending a good amount of time the development of a world culture, which in the twentieth century passed on ideas and qualities into our own.  One of the most important questions with which we will grapple is whether writers outside our world view have something to say to the Christian reader?

Besides works found in the three volume Norton text, students will have an on-going reading assignment throughout the semester of the LARGE novel, The Brothers Karamazov, by Fyodor Dostoevsky. 

Required Texts

Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky,     Required
 Mass Market Paperback Reissue edition (March 1995)
Bantam Books (Classic & Love swept); ISBN: 0553212168

An excellent edition with essay which could be used for extra credit is
The Norton Critical Edition of
Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Norton Anthology of World Literature: 
(Volumes D, E, F): 1650 to the Present 
Edited by Sarah Lawall 

 

 

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Class Objectives:

+ =

1. To examine ideas and styles of literature through the ages.
2. To become familiar with some of the greatest authors in western literature.
3. To consider the evolution of the following concepts: the roles of men and women, the definition of hero and his/her relation to society, the changing image of the individual, the changing values of society in each age, the conflict between fate and free will, the role of formal religion and family life in each age, the expressions of faith in various forms.
4. To consider some of the important elements in the philosophies from ancient Greek to nineteenth-century to modern Existential view of life.
5. To practice reading texts critically and carefully in order to find the textual evidence to support their interpretations.
6. To promote within students the vision and ability to apply communication skills and knowledge to enhance personal relationships, human society and God's kingdom.
7. To enable students to improve written communications through directed experience in their Discussions, their papers and exams.
8. To acquire a knowledge of the assigned content matter

Evaluation:

Paper - 20% (4-5, double-spaced pages using MLA format; at least three secondary sources required)

Exercises - 5%  Leading Up to Paper
Class Participation - 10% (Online Discussion and Class Involvement)

Report on Critical Article -5%
Quizzes - 20% (12 quizzes given; 10 best scores counted)
Midterm exam - 20% (covers second half of course)
Final exam - 20% (covers second half of course)

Grading Scale:  Your recorded work, your attendance, your involvement in class and extra effort will all be factored into the final grade.

• 100 - 93 = A Exceptional! A cut above--unusually good.
• 92 - 90 = A - Very, Very Well Done! -- above expectations.
• 89 - 87 = B + Well Done! A fine Job!
• 89 - 83 = B Really Good
• 82 - 80 = B - Pretty Good
• 79 - 77 = C + Solidly in there
• 76 - 73 = C Clearly a concrete understanding of the subject
• 72 - 70 = C - Understanding of subject is workable
• 69 - 60 = D Passing but weak
• 59 and below is an "F" Fell short of required understanding of material

Chronological List of Assignments:

Test # 1 on Thurs. Feb. 7
Test # 2 on Thurs. Feb. 14
Test # 3 on Thurs. Feb. 21

Literature Review of a Critical Article -- Tues. Feb 26th (follow link for example)
Test # 4 on Thurs. Feb. 28
Test # 5 on Thurs. March 6
Midterm exam on Thurs. March 13
Subject and Topic with Source of Subject Headings for paper -- Tues. March 25th (same day you get back)

Test # 6 on Thurs. March 27
Test # 7 on Thurs  April 3
Research Question for paper due -- Tues. April 8th

Test # 8 on Thurs. April 10th
Test # 9 on Thurs. April 17th
Annotated Bibliography for final paper due -- Tues, April 22nd
Test # 10 on Thurs. April 24th
First page of text due -- Tues. April 29th 
Test # 11 on Thurs. May 1st (but no class it's Blue Green Day)

Test # 12 on Thurs. May 8th
Final Paper due -- May 8th (Last Day of Class)
Final exam on Tues May. 13th 3:00-4:50 pm.

Tests: There will be eleven (12) quizzes given; 10 of the best scores will be counted.  This semester Students should keep all returned quizzes since these make up the backbone of both the midterm and the final. Students must be in class to take all quizzes.

Midterm and Final Exam:  The midterm will be given on March 13^th in class, right before the midterm break and will be based on the material from the first half of the semester--especially that covered in the first five quizzes.  Meanwhile the final exam, which is scheduled for Tuesday May 15^th usual class 3:00-4:50 in our regular classroom and will have some questions from the first half but will be based strongly on the material covered in the second half of the semester.

Attendance: Since we are functioning on an intensive schedule, it is vital that you be in class throughout the semester--even on days when a play is being shown in class.  Three absences will be allowed and then five points will be taken from the student's final score at the end of the term.  Students who are involved in a recognized activity for the school (Mandate weekends, traveling musical groups, athletes) need to see the instructor ahead of time so arrangements can be made.

Class Participation: Lecture will only play a part in the class activities.  Literature is meant to be talked about.  Students are encouraged to express their opinions and share their unique insights.  Each of us brings something special to a text that is ours alone.  Your comments are very important.  I have been known to add extra credit to students who show an exceptional willingness to participate in class discussion.

Online Class Participation As part of the above grade, students should make six (6) entries (about one every two weeks) in the blackboard online discussions.  Of course, more than six entries will be counted as extra credit.

The Paper:  You are to write a paper of 1000-1250 words (four to five pages). Use MLA style. For your use, I have included pictures of the way your paper should look (see bottom of page). You will be graded on content as well as grammatical correctness and style. Besides the Primary text you should use at least two secondary texts (critics).

A variety of topics will be brought up in class. (Follow this Link for possible Paper Topics.)You may choose one of them and prepare a research paper. Or if you have some other topic you would like to work on, clear that topic with me. 

Otherwise, you are to choose one of the authors whose work we have already read this semester or one of the authors we will read before the end of the semester. Then read another work by this author (the work should be fairly substantial—don’t focus on just one short poem, for example). If you choose this option, you can approach the assignment by doing a research paper on the new work you have read. Or you can discuss or analyze the new work, in which case research is optional. Or you might want to compare and contrast the work you read with the piece we read in class, again making research optional. 

Please avoid using biographical information about the author unless a brief mention of biographical information is needed to clarify some point you are making. Also, do not summarize what you have read except briefly if necessary to make some point. 

Disability Needs:  Students who qualify for and desire accommodations in this course due to a disability, as defined by the American s with Disabilities Act of 1990, must follow the Disability Service Policies and Procedures as put forth by the office of Academic Support.  The guidelines can be accessed in electronic form at the web address http://www.mvnu.edu/academics/services/dservices.html and in a hard copy at the Academic Support office.  Call extension 4540 for further information.  On a personal note, I am disabled because of eyesight, my son is disabled by breathing complications, and so I am especially sensitive to the needs and challenges faced by otherwise qualified students.  I "toughed" it out when I was at ENC, but the world has changed for the better and there are many resources available to you I wish I had, resources I in fact presently use in my office such as a close circuit TV attached to the screen of my computer as well as speaking programs which allow text to be read to me.  Pursue these things and see me if you have any such needs. 

Extra Credit:

A student can add extra credit to his or her grade by writing a review or reviews on outside reading concerning any of the works or authors covered in class (just like the literary review due on Feb. 26 in MLA). Furthermore, another options for extra credit are to view or listen to and then write a review about tapes or video films on reserve in the library within this field and extra entries in the online discussion boards.  Credit will vary according to the work..

A Cautionary Comment About “Extra Credit:” Many students take advantage of the option of extra credit and I am pleased to offer the opportunity.  However, students should understand that extra credit does not make up for the overall performance in class.  Extra Credit is a boost.  If pursued to its fullest it can add up to about five points on your over-all numerical score.  That pushes a “B+” to an “A-” or an “A-” to an “A”.  Do not expect a solid “B” [85] to be changed to an “A” [93] by extra credit.  There have been cases when a high “B” [87] has been kicked up to an A- [90] but students in such cases were close to a B+ from the start.  Extra Credit works, but don’t expect more from it than it can give.

Literature on the Web:

As we make our way through the readings you may wish to visit my web page,
Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner, located at

Dr. Rearick's Readers' Corner
http://nzr.mvnc.edu/nzr/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/readings/re_intro.htm

This address is reachable both on and off campus.  Those of you who are local and do not have a computer should remember that the Knox Public Library offers web access for a limited time, and--of course--the labs of the campus library and computer labs are available to you.

Other web pages relating to works of literature which might be of interest to the student can be accessed from this index page by title, author, genre, sub-genre, time period, or nationality.

I have tried to place some ideas and even sometimes some test questions connected with our class readings within these files.  Also in several cases there are links to study guides, e texts, and even connections to relevant web pages on the net.

Note that every work is connected to a page which gives biographical information about the author taken from the Encyclopedia Britanica.

If you wish to make your way through the front door and see what other faculty
are up to check out the MVNU internal web page at http://mvnc.edu/nzr which for some reason comes up on my computer with the address of. . .

http://nzr.mvnc.edu/nzr/

One special point of note:  Please do not print off my pages until you find out how long the document is and have asked yourself if you really need a hard copy.  You can check the document size  by going into print preview and then zoom in so you can read the text.  At the bottom of the first page will be the page number in comparison with the total pages.  For example, my "Dickens’ Christian Carol in Prose" article has at the bottom  ‘1 of 13.’  This tells you that there will be 13 pages of text printed.  Not bad, but my Pride and Prejudice study guild developed by Monarch Notes is 75 pages.  Librarians and computer lab assistants have been dismayed to find piles of such text flowing from their printers.  Please do not abuse this resource!

Class Schedule Spring 2008

Throughout the semester, reading assignments are listed for The Brothers Karamazov which will be covered towards the end of the class.  Although the novel will not be overtly touched until then, students will find it to their advantage to keep up with the recommended readings--especially since basic plot questions will appear in appropriate tests throughout the semester.  On the average the student should plan to read eight chapters a week or a little over one chapter a day.

NOTE: ALWAYS READ THE INTRODUCTIONS TO THE AUTHORS before reading the primary text.  Not only are they informative, but they’re fair game for quizzes.

Week One:
Jan. 28- Feb. 1

Introduction to class  / The Nature of Literature -- special application to the novel

Thurs. Jan. 30

Opening comments on Literature

By the end of the week have this much read:
Brothers Karamazov Book I (Chapters 1-5)