World Literature: Coming of Age Theme (Fall 2013)

Prof. Wendy C. Nielsen

earth from space
Blue Marble, NASA

ENLT 206-02, Tues. online, Thursdays 11:30-12:45 in DI 273
http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/13wl.html

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Office Hours: drop in T 3:30-5:30, Thurs. 10:30-11:30 & by appt. in Dickson Hall 352.
Email: nielsenw@mail . . . 

Texts available at University Bookstore:
Other required readings are posted on Blackboard: http://blackboard.montclair.edu/

Course description: Coming-of-age stories mark a loss of innocence, and they punctuate the shift from childhood to adulthood. In this course, we will examine why writers use this universal motif to describe their experiences after 1945, a period marked by the end of several global atrocities (the Holocaust, the Atom Bomb, colonialism) and the beginning of new revolutions for individuals, communities, and nations. What lessons do coming-of-age stories teach readers from all over the world? During the first few weeks, we will compare folk and fairy tales from Europe to Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories. The following unit focuses on literature related to the Atom Bomb (short stories collected by Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe, and Hiroshima Mon Amour, by Marguerite Duras), and colonialism (Mariama Bâ, Scarlet Song). The final unit invites students to read the motif of coming-of-age critically in the memoir, I, Rigoberta Menchu. Exposure to literature from Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America will help students appreciate the way literature reflects and shapes global issues. Satisfies: Other Literature (1c); Genre Study (Fiction) (Fiction); Multinational (4a); Women Writers (4c); 2011 International Issues (3a); 2011 Women and Gender Studies (3c); and GER World Literature. 

Requirements: Click here to get an explanation of my shorthand on Style issues, and my criteria for grading: http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/correction.html

#1:The Spirit of a Democratic Classroom: Respect, Collegiality, and Integrity

#2: Participation (incl. regular attendance, contribution to class discussion, discussion questions, peer review)--10%:
#3: Midterm (Unit I)--15 or 25% (depending on which is lower [15%, aka Exam 1] or higher [25%, aka Exam 2], the Midterm or the Final Essay): No make-up dates!

#4: Close Analysis Portfolio (critical intro., 3-4 originals + at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills, and all original close analyses with my comments on them)--30%: See full instructions at this link: http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/13wlca.html

#5: Research Synopsis on World Literature
(incl. mandatory proof of draft work)--20%; assignment on Blackboard

#6: Final Take-Home Essay on Unit II--15 or 25% (depending on which is lower [15%, aka Exam 1] or higher [25%, aka Exam 2],  the Midterm or the Final Essay): No make-up dates (12/17, 3pm, online)!

Policies: Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/13wl.html> for updates
Date
Class Activities
Homework Due
R 9/5
Course + stud. intro.; Timeline + Geography; What is world literature? P. Verlaine, "Innocents We" (1869); Alt. trans.; Watteau; Female Coming of Age; Online Classes & Evaluating Yourself Online Tuesday's reading assignment is in the cell below. Acquire the textbooks for this class! See additional instructions for this class on Blackboard/Online Classes. 
T 9/10 online
International Fairy Tales
Read from Cole: "Cinderella" (3-8), "Blue Beard" (29-32), "Ashenputtel" (68-74), "Snow-White" (53-61), "LRR" (112-14), "Baba Yaga" (411-14), "Indian Cinderella" (694-96), "Magic Orange" (727-30), "Three Magic" (756-60); see Blackboard > Online Classes > 9/10 for spec. instructions for class
R 9/12
Review; Common Fairy Tale Elements; Student Questions; Male Coming of Age; Research Ques. Fairy Tales; Close Analyses; iTunesU
Read from Cole: "Hansel and Gretel" (145-151), "Jack and the Beanstalk" (193-98), "The Lad" (310-13), "The Forest" (387-94), "Aladdin" (467-77), "Raja's Son" (583-91), "Oni" (644-49), "Lucky" (760-63) DISC. #1: Post 1 or more discussion questions about the readings on Blackboard/Discussion Forum/Fairy Tales, and bring a copy to class. These questions might include ones you would pose as an instructor of the class, things you are confused about in the reading, or a mix between the two. The purpose of discussion questions is to open a dialogue between you and me; to make this a student-centered classroom; and to help students become better writers by becoming critical thinkers, or people who question what they read. Discussion questions are not evaluated, are not mandatory, but are taken into consideration for your Participation Grade.  Please feel free to respond to other students' queries if you feel inspired to answer; I will take such responses as extra credit for your Participation Grade (and enjoy reading them, of course). 
T 9/17 online Review; Rushdie bio; Haroun and the Sea of Stories
Rushdie 1-54 (through middle of ch. 3); see Blackboard > Online Classes > 9/17 for spec. instructions for class
R 9/19 Review + Free Write; Haroun and the Sea of Stories; Voice Board; Close Analyses collected
Rushdie 54-93 (through ch. 5); Close Analysis (CA) #1 (Fairy Tales): Write a 1-2 pg. (250-400 words) close analysis on a passage from one of the fairy tales we read (see full assignment online). The citation (1-3 sentences) should be at the top of the page. Analyze specific literary elements in that passage and argue for their significance in understanding the rest of the book. Please avoid plot summary, and include a Works Cited. Although each individual analysis is not graded, I expect you to complete at least 3 of the 4 assigned Close Analyses, which will be graded when they are presented in a revised Close Analysis Portfolio. Bring a copy to class (will be collected for instructor's feedback) and post your response to Blackboard as well. I will NOT accept emailed submissions. If you cannot attend class, I suggest you ask a fellow participant to bring your hard copy to class.
T 9/24
online
Review; Women in Haroun
Rushdie 97-156 (through ch. 9); see Blackboard for spec. instructions for class
R 9/26 Party Game; Review; Stud. Ques.; The end of Haroun; RQ Haroun?
Rushdie 159-end; DISC. #2: Write 1 or more orig. discussion ques., and post them to Blackboard/Discussion Board.
T 10/1 online Review; Kenzaburo Oe; Introduction, “The Crazy Iris” ; Map of Japan; “Human Ashes” Oe and Ibuse 9-35; Oda in Oe 63-84; see Blackboard for spec. instructions for class
R 10/3  Review; “The Colorless Paintings”; "The Empty Can"; RQ Crazy Iris?
Sata in Oe 113-25; Hayashi in Oe 127-43; CA #2 (Crazy Iris): Closely analyze a significant passage from one of the stories in The Crazy Iris, bring a copy to class, and post to Bb.
T 10/8
online
Review; Lecture about  Hiroshima Mon Amour; RQ Crazy Iris Read Duras, Hiroshima Mon Amour; see Blackboard for spec. instructions for class
R 10/10 Hiroshima Mon Amour (DVD #1847); Discussion of Hiroshima Mon Amour;
RQ Hiroshima?
CA #3 (Duras): Closely analyze a significant passage from one of the stories in Hiroshima mon amour, bring a copy to class, and post to Bb.
T 10/15
online
Midterm Review + Tips
See Blackboard for spec. instructions for class
R 10/17 Midterm Exam--NO MAKE-UP DATES!
Bring pencil and/or pen and books to class.
Unit II: Women and the Postcolonial World
T 10/22
online
Scarlet Song: Ba bio + Ques.; Research Synopsis
Read Bâ, 1-44
R 10/24 Scarlet Song
Read Bâ, 45-87;  DISC. #3: Write 1 or more orig. discussion ques., and post them to Blackboard/Discussion Board.
T 10/29
online
Review; Scarlet Song Read Bâ, 88-123; see Blackboard for spec. instructions for class
R 10/31 Colonialism; Research Synopsis assigned; Scarlet Song; Scarlet Song RQ?
Read Bâ, 124-end;  Close Analysis #4 (Bâ):  Closely analyze a significant passage from one of the stories in Scarlet Song, bring a copy to class, and post to Bb.
T 11/5
online
I, Rigoberta Menchu from Guatemala in Central America
Read Menchu, 1-57
R 11/7 Review; Syllabus edit 11/14, 11/21 & 12/10; Student Ques. on I, Rigoberta Menchu; Close Readings
Read Menchu, 58-107; DISC #4 (Menchu 1): Write 1 or more orig. discussion ques., and post them to Blackboard/Discussion Board.
T 11/12
online
Resistance and Gender in Menchu
Read Menchu, 108-65 (through ch. 18)
R 11/14 I, Rigoberta Menchu
Read Menchu, 165-219 (ch. 25); Post at least 1 peer-reviewed source (MLA style) for Research Synopsis; DISC #5 (Menchu 2): Write 1 or more orig. discussion ques., and post them to Blackboard/Discussion Board.
T 11/19
online
I, Rigoberta Menchu; Gender
Read Menchu, 220-77 (through ch. 32)
R 11/21
Disc. of Close Analyses; Research Synopsis; When the Mountains Tremble
Close Analysis Portfolios due--hard copy in class, and upload any version to Blackboard/Close Analyses Safe Assign if you have not already done so
T 11/26
online
I, Rigoberta Menchu; Rigoberta Menchu RQ?
Read Menchu, 277-end, intro (xi-xxiii), and Damrosch (Bb); see Blackboard for spec. instructions for class
T 12/3
online
Research Synopsis library tutorial; Final Essay Exam assigned See Blackboard for spec. instructions for class; part of today's in-class activities will include posting a research question on one of the works we have read. 
R 12/5 Portfolios returned; On-campus Library Tutorial (meet in Sprague 203)
If you have not yet posted a research question, please do so before class.
T 12/10 online  Peer Review of Research Synopses  If you want feedback on your draft, post by Sunday 12/8 by noon on Blackboard. Rough draft of R.S. due in class See Bb for instructions; Finish revising your journals for the Journal Portfolio
R 12/12
Presentation of Research Synopses; Final Exam Review (mostly Unit II)
Research Synopsis due as hard copy for instructor, and on Blackboard/Assignments/Final Draft for presentation. Be prepared to give a 2 - 3 min. executive summary of your research ques. and findings. Optional: Participation Packet due (staple/print all discussion questions and online responses)
T 12/17

Research Synopses returned 11am-2:30pm in 352 DI Final Take-Home Essay due by 3pm online

Wendy C. Nielsen, ENLT 206: World Literature: Coming of Age (Fall 2013), English Department, Montclair State University, Sept. 2013