“Introduction to
Literature: Critical Reading and
Writing”
English 4,
Section 7, Winter 1998
Instructor:
Meg Powers Livingston
Office Hours:
Mon. 11:00-12:30, Wed. 12:30-1:45, & by appt.
Office:
Royce Hall, B 14
Mailbox:
Rolfe 2225 (English Department Office)
Phone:
Office: 825-3825, Department: 825-4173
E-mail:
livingst@ucla.edu
Class Web Page:
at http://my.ucla.edu/ or http://ecampus.humnet.ucla.edu/
Course Materials:
DiYanni, Robert, ed. Literature:
Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay. 4th Edition. (Readings will be listed on the syllabus under DiYanni.)
Abrams, M. H.
Glossary of Literary Terms.
6th Edition. (Readings will be
listed under Abrams.)
Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. The Pelican Shakespeare. Maynard Mack, Ed
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. (Please use Signet Classics edition for easier in-class page
references.)
Technology:
I find the integration of electronic technology into the classroom both instructive and convenient. I will make use of the course web-page, and I expect you to do the same, from home or from one of the university computer labs. I am in the process of arranging a class meeting in one of Powell’s computer labs; after this meeting, all homework is to be posted to the class web-page.
Course Objectives:
English 4 (Introduction to Literature: Critical Reading and Writing) is designed to encourage and develop your interest in and evaluation of literary texts. The course gives a broad overview of English and American poetry, drama, essays, and fiction, but the real focus will be on developing your capacity to be good critical readers and on demonstrating your new skills through class discussion and writing assignments.
Course Requirements:
You are expected to:
attend all scheduled classes promptly. Many in-class activities, including those
that take place in the first 5-10 minutes, cannot be made up. Also, written homework assignments will
often be given orally at the end of class; if you are not in class, you won’t
know what the assignment is.
complete all reading and writing assignments
in full and on time. You may be quizzed
to ensure completion of assigned readings.
A discussion based class only works if you come to class thoroughly
prepared.
complete all media lab assignments on
time. Media lab instructions and assignments
will be announced in class.
participate actively in class discussions and
group activities.
meet with me individually at least once early
in the term and whenever else requested.
You must inform me of any activities or problems (such as athletic
involvement or a family emergency) which are interfering with your class
work. If you’re struggling for any
reason, TELL ME SO I CAN HELP!
complete and turn in on time four papers on
various topics. This requirement is
discussed in fuller detail below. You
will also be expected to complete a midterm and a final exam.
Late And Missed Assignments:
All work is due either at the beginning of class or by the time indicated on the syllabus. English Department policy states that a late paper will be penalized a letter grade step a day (A to A- to B+, etc.). Any paper a week or more late will not be accepted and will receive a 0 (zero). Late homework will not be accepted and no make-up quizzes will be allowed without a valid written excuse.
Plagiarism:
Any use of another’s words or ideas must be acknowledged by the appropriate use of quotation or parenthetical reference. For guidelines, see DiYanni pp. 1935-1936 or the “English Department Style Sheet” p. 5. The University requires that all instances of plagiarism be reported to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. Plagiarism can result in course failure and/or University expulsion.
Grading:
Papers: 50%
Midterm and Final: 30%
Class participation, homework and quizzes: 20%
Daily Assignments:
|
Week 1 |
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M 1/12 |
Introduction to course; introduction to Poetry. |
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W 1/14 |
DiYanni: Chapter 9; “Sound” 523-531; “Rhythm and Meter” 531-542; “An Apology for Poetry” 1662; “The Tyger” 701; “Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister” 726; “Sound and Sense” 528; “Batter my heart, three-personed God” 694; “Digging” 796 |
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Abrams: “Meter” 112-117; “Rhyme” 184-187; “Alliteration” and “Assonance” 7-8; |
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Week 2 |
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M 1/19 |
Holiday: No Class or Office Hours |
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W 1/21 |
DiYanni: Chapters 10,12; “Imagery” 496-501; “Figures of Speech” 402-508; “Symbolism and Allegory” 509-515; “The Metaphysical Poets” 1963; “That time of year thou may’st in me behold” 503; “Leda and the Swan” 741; “The Road Not Taken” 513; “To His Coy Mistress” 698; “Ozymandias” 711; “Virtue” 514; “Diving into the Wreck” 783 |
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Abrams: “Imagery” 86-87; “Figurative Language” 66-70; “Allegory” 4-7; “Symbol” 206-208 |
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Week 3 |
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M 1/26 |
DiYanni: “Voice” 479-487; “Diction” 488-495; “Syntax” 516-522; “Structure” 542-551; “Authenticity of Imagination” 1965; “My Last Duchess” 481; “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” 749; “My Mistress’ Eyes...” 689; “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer” 544; “A Noiseless Patient Spider” 729; “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night” 773; |
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Abrams: “Free Verse” 73-75; “Poetic Diction” 163-164; “Motif and Theme” 121; “Persona, Tone, and Voice” 155-157; “Sonnet” 197-198; “Stanza” 198-200; “Dramatic Monologue” 48-49 |
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W 1/28 |
DRAMA |
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DiYanni: Chapters 17-20; “Stagecraft in the Elizabethan Age” 982-983 |
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Abrams: “Character and Characterization” 23-25; “Plot” 159-163; “Soliloquy” 196-197 |
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Week 4 |
Antony and Cleopatra, Acts I and II |
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M 2/2 |
DiYanni: “On Tragedy” 1960 (from Aristotle’s Poetics) |
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Abrams: “Tragedy” and “Tragicomedy” 212-215; “The Three Unities” 211 |
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Antony and Cleopatra, Acts III, IV and V |
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W 2/4 |
DiYanni: “Modern Realistic Theater” 1238-1239; “The Interpreter of Life” 1973; |
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Arms and the Man, Acts I and II, 1291-1319 |
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Abrams: “Satire” 187-190 |
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F 2/6 |
Paper #1 due in my mailbox by 4:00pm |
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Week 5 |
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M 2/9 |
DiYanni: “On Drama as Literature and Performance” 1986; |
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Arms and the Man, Act III, 1319-1337 |
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W 2/11 |
IN-CLASS MID-TERM EXAM |
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Week 6 |
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M 2/16 |
Holiday: No Class or Office Hours |
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W 2/18 |
ESSAY |
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DiYanni: Chapters 29-32; “Of Smells” 1817; “Of Love” 1819; “Meditation 17” 1820; “A Modest Proposal” 1822 |
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Abrams: “Essay” 59-60 |
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Week 7 |
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M 2/23 |
DiYanni: “Notes of a Native Son” 1846; “In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens” 1869; “No Name Woman” 1805 |
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Abrams: “Objective and Subjective” 135; “Point of View” 165-169 |
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W 2/25 |
SHORT STORY |
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DiYanni: Chapters 1-4; “A Rose for Emily” 80; “The Black Cat” 102; “Young Goodman Brown” 272; “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” 331; Abrams: “Short Story” 193-195 |
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F 2/27 |
Paper #2 due in my mailbox at 4:00pm |
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Week 8 |
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M 3/2 |
DiYanni: section on DH Lawrence 130-139; “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” 151; “The Open Boat” 302; “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” 337; Abrams: “Realism and Naturalism” 174-176 |
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W 3/4 |
DiYanni: section on Flannery O’Connor 172-180; “Good Country People” 180; “The Yellow Wallpaper” 291; Rape Fantasies” 392; Abrams: “Irony” 97-101 |
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Week 9 |
NOVEL |
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M 3/9 |
Pride and Prejudice, Vol. 1 (chapters 1-23); Abrams: “Novel” 130-135; review “Character”, “Plot” and “Satire” |
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W 3/11 |
Pride and Prejudice, Vol. II (chapters 24-42) |
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Week 10 |
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M 3/16 |
Pride and Prejudice, Vol. III (chapters 43-end) |
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W 3/18 |
Paper #3 due at beginning of class. |
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Wrap-up discussion and review for final. |
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Revised Paper due at the beginning of the final exam session. |
