INTRODUCTION TO LITERARY STUDY
"Buy with a golden curl" - Goblin Market
August 31: Introduction
Hemingway, "Hills Like White Elephants"
Literary Devices
Canon, Genre, Period
HW: (1) Make a glossary to study for the literary devices quiz; (2) Letter to the Professor & revision; (3) Buy and read Goblin Market
September 7 : Building close readings
Read Christina Rossetti, Goblin Market
Read Wimsatt and Beardsley, "The Intentional Fallacy" (here)
Cleanth Brooks, "The Heresy of Paraphrase" (here)
HW: Close reading of 3 passages; (2) Read, print, and annotate poetry packet (3) Read and print Stanley Fish article linked below
September 14: Poetry & Scansion
Poetry packet (here): Christopher Marlowe, Sir Walter Raleigh, Edgar Allan Poe, William Shakespeare, Harryette Mullen, and Langston Hughes
Stanley Fish, "How to Recognize a Poem When You See One" (here)
Close Reading of 3 passages due. Observe proper formatting!
HW: (1) Study for scansion quiz; practice using For Better or for Verse
(2) Choose one poem from the poetry packet and brainstorm a close reading analysis of the entire poem.
(3) Borrow or buy any major anthology of English Literature and bring it with you to class.
September 21: Historicizing & adding contexts
Scansion Quiz: Practice using For Better or for Verse
Timelines Activity in groups. (Finish for homework).
Dictionary of National Biography
HW: 1) Complete Timelines Activity to hand in next week. 2) Research and jot down some biographical info on Ernest Hemingway, Christina Rossetti, Herman Melville, Mary Shelley or any of our poets using the DNB or an anthology. How does this change your reading of a text? 3) Read and annotate your copy of “Bartleby the Scrivener.” Bring it with you to class.
September 28: Crafting the English Essay
Herman Melville, “Bartleby the Scrivener.”
Lesson on Incorporating Quotes
Timelines Activity due.
Critical Essay assigned.
HW: 1) Read Barry, Psychoanalysis (Chapter 5) and Marxist criticism (Chapter 8). Brainstorm a psychoanalytic analysis of any text we've read; then brainstorm a Marxist analysis of any passage we've read. Jot down your notes.
2) Read Frankenstein, pp. 1-77.
3) Starting drafting Critical Essay. Rough drafts due in hard copy 10/19.
October 5: Introducing Theory. Psychoanalytic & Marxist readings.
Read Roland Barthes, "The Death of the Author" (here)
Barry, Psychoanalysis (Chapter 5) and Marxist criticism (Chapter 8).
Brainstorm a psychoanalytic analysis of any text we've read; then brainstorm a Marxist analysis of any passage we've read. Jot down your notes.
HW: 1) Write up keyword paragraphs for Psychoanalytical and Marxist Criticism.
2) Read Frankenstein, pp. 78-135.
3) Read Barry, Feminist criticism (Chapter 6) and Postcolonial criticism (Chapter 10)
4) Read and print out Orwell and Mullen (linked below)
5) Rough draft of essays due.
October 12: Theory: Feminist & Postcolonial Readings
Rough Drafts due.
George Orwell, "Shooting an Elephant" (here)
Harryette Mullen, "European Folktale Variant" (here)
Barry, Feminist criticism (Chapter 6) and Postcolonial criticism (Chapter 10)
Browse the Every Single Word Spoken by a Person of Color versions of Lord of the Rings and Maleficent.
HW: 1) Write up keyword paragraphs for Feminist and Postcolonial Criticism.
2) Read Frankenstein, pp. 136-187
October 19: Library Session
Class meets in the lobby of Leonard Lief Library!
Be sure to have your Lehman I.D. on you or you will not have access to the library.
Rough drafts returned with comments.
Essay Grading Rubric (here)
Homework: 1) Finish reading Frankenstein.
3) Essay 1 is due in my mailbox by Wednesday, October 31. Lecture notes from last week's class on Writing Papers is (here)
Frankenreads week begins! - Happy halloween! (No regular class until 11/9)
(You must attend 2 of the 4 events below and submit a write-up of each)
Thursday, October 25: Film screening at Music Building, Recital Hall
Thursday, November 1: "Frankenstein & Disability" Guest Lecture by Prof. Julia Miele Rodas
Friday, November 2: Marathon reading & trip to Princeton University
Friday, November 16: Exhibition Tour at The Morgan Library
November 9: Final Frankenstein Class
Frankenstein final discussion: Finish the novel, listing vocabulary words and literary devices you encounter.
Work on your Field Reports for the events you’ve already attended
November 16: Morgan Library trip - 4pm
Class meets at 3:45 pm at The Morgan Library, 225 Madison Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets.
November 23: No class - happy Thanksgiving!
Write up (and proofread!) your two Field Reports. Due by email on Nov 23.
Work on your Anthology Project.
November 30: The Literary Essay
Print out, read, and annotate George Orwell, “Bookshop Memories”
Print out and read, and annotate Anne Fadiman, “The Literary Glutton”
HW: (1) Start your Final Essay (Option A or B) using your in-class writing spurts. Continue work on Anthology Project.
(2) Bring your Anthology and Essay drafts to your conference and workshop.
(3) Check your email and fill out the Course Evaluation before it expires! A link should have been sent to you from the Vice Provost.
(4) We were too exhausted to cover this in class, but this presentation may be useful to scroll through: Citation & Grammar Presentation. (This includes some sample intros of Anthology Projects)
Grammar Help (from Purdue Owl online)
Sentence Fragments
Sentence Fragment Exercises
Run-On Sentences
Run-On Sentence Exercises
December 7: Final class: Individual/Paired Conferences & Writing Workshop
Meet in Seminar Room 301 for food & workshopping!
Bring ALL materials to workshop with your partner and to show me in your Exit Conference: (Final Essay draft, Anthology Project, and Field Report for grammar)
2:00-3:00: Alexis & Alysia; Angela, Peter & Emmanuel; Toni & Diva; Marlee & Maria; Sayedah & Hector; Isha & Jasmine; Zonia & Kim
3:00-4:00: Cynthia & Madalo; Neisha & Jose; Massiel & Stephanie; Kimone & Devonnia; Stephanie & Nathalie
HW: (1) Work extensively on your Anthology Project.
(2) Bring a first draft of your Final Essay to your conference and workshop.
(3) Check your email and fill out the Course Evaluation before it expires! A link should have been sent to you from the Vice Provost.
Final Essays and Anthology Projects are due emailed as a PDF or Word attachment. Late assignments will not be accepted.
I am happy to provide feedback and comments on drafts and final work handed on or before December 7.