The School of Arts and Humanities Presents the

Syllabus for
ENG 2013

Introduction to Literature Sec. 1  Online-Version

Instructor: Dr. Anderson M. Rearick III

Credit: 3 Hours / LLRC 038: 9:00-11:30 a.m. 
Summer 2008 MTWTh first week
Online from thence: The Adventure Begins ! 
Sec. 1--Online Hours

Dr. Rearick's Office: Founders Hall 219C
(Within 219: Lit., Lang., & Comm. Dept.)

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

Instant Messenger Name: trearick

Course Index:

Course Description:

The purpose of ENG2013, Introduction to Literature, as described by the Online Catalogue: is to be a "study of literary genres through representative readings. Prerequisite: ENG1053G." This class will meet daily for the first week up to Thursday, May 22 and then online to discuss the nature of literature using as raw material the readings listed as well as a series of handouts picked up at the book store and online texts. Discussions will center on some of the common themes that have haunted the human mind and heart throughout western history.

Class Procedure:

ENG 2013-G Introduction to Literature: This class will meet daily for the first week up till Thursday May 22 and then will gather online for six weeks to discuss the nature of literature using the below reading list as raw material drawn from textbooks as well as a series of handouts purchased in the bookstore. There will be an online quiz every Friday.  Rather than divided by literary types or chronological order, class discussions will center on some of the common themes that have haunted the human mind and heart throughout western history.   The material will be grouped thematically: isolation through self centeredness, isolation by gender difference, isolation by “cultureral” forces, isolation by death, and isolation by war.  In each case authors have depicted responses that include forgiveness, love, community, reconciliation and peace.

The following reading list is not exclusive and, in fact, many important works (probably including many of your favorites) have been excluded. This class can only function as an introduction, not an exhaustive study. I encourage you to think of the texts for this class not as a single resource but a series of inexhaustible treasure chests, capable of refreshment and inspiration time and time again.

Students will be evaluated by a series of quizzes (about one a week), class participation, and a final.  Also the option for extra credit will be made available for those who are willing to do extra work.

The purpose of this course is. . .

1. to expose the student to a wide range of literary genres: poetry, drama, novel and short story

2. to introduce the student to a wide ranger of authors of different cultures, genders and ages.

3. to encourage the student to consider what makes a work of literature worthy--how should the cannon be formed?

4. to introduce some of the important common issues which authors--in spite of their different backgrounds, cultures, and mediums--often examine.

Actual Reading Texts: I know at times you may feel like this fellow below but stay with it.

A Note on the texts:  The central purpose of this class is to enrich your life.  This is not a vocational training session in which the question of what information is actually applicable to one's present or future job is central to the class's worth.  In point of fact most companies have programs to deal with that need.  The purpose of this course is to broaden the student's understanding of the human condition, to widen his or her understanding of how people think, and develop their own sense of what is worthwhile and beautiful.  Thus these texts have value long after the student completes this class and should be looked upon as the beginning of what may become a treasure trove of future reading.  One final note, readings listed on a day in a syllabus are expected to be completed by that day.

Criticism:

An Experiment in Criticism by C.S. Lewis

Cambridge University Press; Rep edition (January 31, 1992)
ISBN: 0521422817
List Price: $16.99
Required
 
 

The  Internet Literary Vocabulary Page accessed from Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner.

The Anthology:

Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense Ninth (9th) Edition

Edited by Thomas Arp and Greg Johnson.
Hardcover:1776 pages Case Bound: List Price: $85.95
Harcourt College Pub (Thomson)
ISBN: 141300654X
Required

Autobiographical:

A Grief Obscured by C.S. Lewis

HarperSanFrancisco
ISBN: 0060652381
List Price: $9.95 Required

A Novel:

A Christmas Carol in Prose [e-text] (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)
by Charles Dickens
Publisher: Dover Publications
Pages: 80
Published: 01-08-1991
ISBN: 0486268659
Required

Plays:

Please note that except for Othello which is in The Perrine's Anthology all the others on web sites. Furthermore we will be viewing these in class, as the dramatists intended.

Hand outs

Handouts will be given throughout the class. Unless specified by Dr. Rearick, such hand-outs should be considered required reading like any of the assigned texts. Click Here for the Word Document Readings and Here for the Contents Page and Here for the Cover Page.  This is a long document.  Do not print unless you can pay.

Grading:

Grading Scale:

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!

86 - 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

Attendance and Class Participation:

Since we are functioning on an intensive schedule, it is vital that you keep up with the reading throughout the semester.  Of course there will be not attendance after this week but your class participation grade will depend strongly on what I see online. 

Lecture will only play a part in this class's activities.  Literature is meant to be talked about.  Students must express their opinions and share their unique insights.  Each of us brings something special to a text that is ours alone.  Thus, your comments are very important.  Your online class home on Blackboard will have ongoing discussion questions.  Students should interact online at least once every week (a total of seven entries by the end of the semester).  This amount of activity earns a 90% towards your class participation grade; more interaction raises the grade.   “More” means extra credit which I place as I see needed.  Here is an example of an online response:

Quizzes: Quizzes:  There will be a quiz at least once every week. Unless indicated by the professor readings assigned for that Friday could appear on the quiz. These quizzes will be composed of multiple-choice, true or false and matching questions, six in total.  One quiz will be dropped at the end of the semester.  These quizzes will be taken online and usually will be available for a 48 hour time span while the actual quiz once opened will be so for one hour.

Final Exam: Saturday June 28  Students will have a choice of either taking this exam on campus from 9:00 - 11:30 at LLRC 038

Extra Credit: Although there will be no papers required for this class, a student can add extra credit to his or her grade by writing a paper or papers on outside reading concerning any of the works or authors covered in class. Another option for extra credit is to view or listen to and then write a review about tapes or video films on reserve in the library.  If the student learns of dramas being performed and attends and writes up the experience, extra credit will be added to his or her grade. Credit will vary according to the assignment.

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. 

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. . .

http://nzr.mvnu.edu/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 MVNU library and computer labs are available to you.

It is Prof. Rearick's intent that every work covered in this literature class has had a web page created about it, assessable through links of either 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 on these web pages.  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 a wide range of credible sources including Encyclopedia Britannica online. As students at MVNU you are part of an institution which subscribes to a wide number of online resources. Use them!
 
 

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's 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 Great Expectations study guide 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!

Threaded Discussion Example                                                                     May 24. 10, 2006

The Role of Nature in Rime of the Ancient Mariner Seems Important

In my latest reading of Coleridge "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" I noticed that even though the work is filled with supernatural elements, the hard edged description of nature itself also plays a dominate role in in the work in setting the mood and cueing the reader to what is going to happen.  What I mean is that as memorable as the vampire-like woman who claims the narrator or the celestial beings who possess the dead crew members bodies are, there are also striking moments of natural beauty such as the storm which fills his water buckets and then clears to reveal a starry night.  

Of course it is the natural beauty of the water snakes which begins the narrator's journey towards redemption.  Although some readers may think Coleridge is exaggerating, such florescent water creatures are well documented.  And it is true of myself that when faced with the glories of nature, the doorway towards the supernatural world seems close.

Tools for the class.  

Microsoft's Internet Explorer: Although I use all sorts of browsers, including Firefox and AOL Explorer, Blackboard was developed especially with Internet Explorer in mind.  Therefore I strongly recommend that when taking online exams, you should use Internet Explorer.  Whenever I contact the support people with problems students are having the first thing they ask is "Are they using Internet Explorer?"  You may go to this page to download Internet Explorer if you do not have it.  However, this is the default program in most PCs.

Another useful tool is Microsoft's free viewer.  This is provided by Microsoft as a free download.  With it you can view any PowerPoint presentation although you can not edit the material.  You may either download it from Microsoft's Web Page.  Or you can try this link from our web page or the program is also in the course documents section of the Blackboard..  

Another helpful program is one which will unlock zip files.  Especially for those of you who are working with dialup (as I am), it is very helpful to have files zipped in that download time can be greatly reduced.  However, you will need to find a freeware program.  Winzip which was one of the first is not freeware it is Shareware and they assume payment will be made eventually.  Freeware is just out there for the consumer to use.  Follow this link to view a page which offers several possibilities or do a search on Google for freeware zip programs.

One of my favorite programs is Irfanview.   You may find it at this link.  This freeware download allows you to view most graphic and video files as well as hear most audio files.  Very versatile and also runs my scanner.  Major tool for my own work.

Class Schedule

What follows is a breakdown of what will be discussed this semester. Note, however, that things sometimes occur which alter schedules, This is an estimation not a block of cement.  Also there are several longer works which will be covered.  Although A Christmas Carol in Prose [e-text]  by Charles Dickensby Charles Dickens, and A Grief Observed and An Experiment in Criticism will not be overtly touched until the proper section, the student will find the recommended reading schedule will break down these long readings into shorter segments. (For example, throughout the semester plan to read three chapters of GE over the weekend, and then two chapter by the next Friday.) Material in these readings will appear in the weekly quizzes. Unless otherwise indicated all page numbers refer to the Perrine's text.

Class Calendar Summer 2008--M,T,W & Th.

Week One: May 19-22

THEME I: The Nature of Literature and its depiction of Isolation

Terms: Here are some terms which you should know by the end of this section.
Look up the literary meaning for. . .

Note: this is not an Option; it is expected:  Remember to look at the Glossary available at  Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner under the heading: "Resources."

Monday: May 19th  Introduction

My Lecture on Pleasure: the Cornerstone of Literature

"Try Out" Quiz  

Tuesday: May 20

My Lecture on Shakespeare

Possible Discussion Topics:

Wednesday: May 21

My Lecture on The Changing Canon

Possible Discussion Topics:

My Lecture on Isolation

More Possible Discussion Topics:

Thursday: May 22

My Lecture on The Romantics and Two Young Men Who Turned the World of Poetry Upside down!   What they thought of poetry and how it worked against the forces of isolation.

What is Going On in Kubla Khan?   Are Visionaries, Poets and Prophets Doomed to Isolation?

Possible Discussion Topics:

Friday: May 23

Online Quiz # 1

Week Two May 26- 30

THEME II: Gender Difference and Cultural Expectations

Learn the literary meaning for. . .

Remember that there is a Glossary available at Dr. Rearick's Reading Room

Note: this is not an Option; it is expected:  Remember to look at the Glossary available at  Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner under the heading: "Resources."

Note: the handout which was on sale in the bookstore can also be found as a word document within Blackboard's "COURSE DOCUMENTS" section, within the  "READINGS" and inside the  "MANUSCRIPTS" folder.

Standard Non Blackboard Summer Syllabus located here <http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/introlit/MVNU_e_term_sum_06/Intro_Summer_e_term_2006.htm>

The Nature of Poetry What Compels Poets to Speak?

Lecture How Does Literature Portray the Isolating Affect of Gender Differences

Shakespeare's Bad/Good Woman & Good/Bad Woman:  How the Bard Rebelled Against the His Age’s Isolating View of Gender Relations   

Longer Works:

Here is a helpful Study Guide on the Taming of the Shrew

Short Stories:

Poems:

Possible Discussion Topics:

THEME III: Love and Marriage—Forces Against Isolation, Their Success and Failure.   

Learn the literary meaning for. . .

Note: this is not an Option; it is expected:  Remember to look at the Glossary available at  Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner under the heading: "Resources."

Lectures:

Literature and Love

Longer Works:

Short Stories:

Poems:

Possible Discussion Topics:

Quiz # 2

Week Three June 2 - June 6

THEME IV: The Power of Familial and Personal Love Against The Isolating Force of Culture:

Learn the literary meaning for. . .

Remember that there is a Glossary available at Dr. Rearick's Reading Room

Note: this is not an Option: it is strongly recommended.  Web pages have been created with further information, study guides and sometimes even sample questions at Dr. Rearick's Reading Room

Note: the handout which was on sale in the bookstore can also be found as a word document within Blackboard's "COURSE DOCUMENTS" section, within the  "READINGS" and inside the  "MANUSCRIPTS" folder.

Standard Non Blackboard Summer Syllabus located here <http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/introlit/MVNU_e_term_sum_06/Intro_Summer_e_term_2006.htm>

Lectures:

Lecture: Cultureral Expectations as Isolating Forces

My Lecture on Charles Dickens  A Lecture about How Charles Dickens Revolutionaries the Novel and Made a Pretty Penny for Himself at the Same Time Overcoming the Obstacles of Culture, Money, and Class

Dickens In Love (also ties into our love discussion)

Longer Works:

Short Stories:

Poems:

Possible Discussion Topics

Possible Discussion Topics:

Quiz # 3

Week Four: June 9 - June 13

THEME IV: The Power of Familial and Personal Love Against The Isolating Force of Culture, Continued:

Learn the literary meaning for. . .

Remember that there is a Glossary available at Dr. Rearick's Reading Room

Note: this is not an Option; it is expected:  Remember to look at the Glossary available at  Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner under the heading: "Resources."

Standard Non Blackboard Summer Syllabus located here <http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/introlit/MVNU_e_term_sum_06/Intro_Summer_e_term_2006.htm>

Lectures:

The Nature of Poetry  (review) What Compels Poets to Speak?

"Dirty Words!" What Makes A Work Profane?

What About the Family?

Dickens' Christian Carol

Longer Works:

Short Stories:

Poems:

Possible Discussion Topics:

Quiz # 4

Week Five: June 16 - June 20

THEME V: Isolation through Death and Hope Through Consolation

Learn the literary meaning for. . .

Remember that there is a Glossary available at Dr. Rearick's Reading Room

Note: this is not an Option; it is expected:  Remember to look at the Glossary available at  Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner under the heading: "Resources."

Standard Non Blackboard Summer Syllabus located here <http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/introlit/MVNU_e_term_sum_06/Intro_Summer_e_term_2006.htm>

Lectures:

Lecture on Grief “Weeping Privately and Publicly: How Poets Have Portrayed the Ultimate Separation”

Can Greatness Be Found in Formulaic Literature?

Longer Works:

Short Stories:

Poems:

Possible Discussion Topics:

Quiz # 5

Week Six: June 23 - 27

THEME V: Isolation through Death and Hope Through Consolation Continued

Remember that there is a Glossary available at Dr. Rearick's Reading Room

Note: this is not an Option; it is expected:  Remember to look at the Glossary available at  Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner under the heading: "Resources."

Standard Non Blackboard Summer Syllabus located here <http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/introlit/MVNU_e_term_sum_06/Intro_Summer_e_term_2006.htm>

Lectures:

The Death of the Mighty and the Humble

How do poets deal with their own inevitable appointment with Death?

Longer Works:

Short Stories:

Poems:

Possible Discussion Topics:  

Catch-up and Review

Quiz # 6

FINAL is scheduled for Saturday morning, June 28, 2008 from 9:00-11:30 a.m.

Last Updated May 16th, 2008

Standard World Doc Version of Syllabus                        Attendance Rooster of Class

Classmaster File (Locked Prof Only)

 The following was covered last year when we had seven weeks rather than six.  Why do you have six?  I haven't a clue!!

Week Seven: July 3 - 8

THEME VI: The Brotherhood of Chivalry and the Isolation of War

Romance (review)

Realistic

Heroic

Chivalry

Remember that there is a Glossary available at Dr. Rearick's Reading Room

Note: this is not an Option; it is expected:  Remember to look at the Glossary available at  Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner under the heading: "Resources."

Standard Non Blackboard Summer Syllabus located here <http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/introlit/MVNU_e_term_sum_06/Intro_Summer_e_term_2006.htm>

Lectures:

Lecture on War and Chivalry

Longer Works:

Short Stories:

Poems: