World Literature: Coming of Age Theme

Blue Marbles, NASA
Blue Marbles, NASA
ENLT 206-01 (11505) FALL 2008
MW 1-2:15 in UN 2006
http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/world08.html
<http://english.montclair.edu>

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Dickson Hall 352
M 4-5:30, W 10-11:30, & by appt. in 352 DI
Email: nielsenw@mail . . . 

Texts available at University Bookstore (all of the following are required):

All of the following are required
You may choose one of the following books:
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. In the first half of the course, we will explore literature related to the Holocaust (Maus by Art Spiegelman) and the Atom Bomb (short stories collected by Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe). Then we will delve into magical realism, a mode made popular by authors like Gabriel García Márquez. In the final portion of the semester, students form book clubs, and they are invited to choose a selected work of world literature to review. Exposure to literature from Africa, Europe, East Asia, and the Americas will help students appreciate the way literature reflects and shapes global issues. This course satisfies GER 1983/2002: F1 (World Literature). For English majors:--1c (other literature); 3: genre (fiction); 4a (multinational); 4d (gender issues).

Requirements:         Click here to get an explanation of my shorthand on Style issues, and my criteria for grading: http://chss.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: In-class Midterm (Unit I)--25%: No make-up dates!

#4: Journal Portfolio (critical intro., 5 originals + at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills)--20%: Students will write at least one entry for nearly every text we read. Each entry begins with any key passage from the work. After copying this passage, write a 1-2 page (250-400 word) analysis. You are encouraged to use these entries as an opportunity to develop skills in close analysis and to track key themes, techniques, or issues in a literary text. Journals are not graded until they are presented in a revised Journal Portfolio (see below). Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well, so that other students can learn from your work. Owing to scheduling difficulties, I am afraid I am NOT able to read late journal entries, although I do expect to see them in the final Portfolio. I will NOT accept emailed journal entries. If you cannot attend class, I suggest you ask a fellow participant to bring your hard copy to class. If you are unable to turn in your journal on time, I suggest you ask a fellow student to read and evaluate the work-in-progress.

The final Journal Portfolio includes a c
ritical intro., 5 originals + at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills. The cover letter should self-evaluate your own Journals and address the following questions: How have these writing exercises aided your thinking this semester? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your journals? What is your best journal entry, and why? What grade would you give yourself for this assignment? Consider the following guidelines in averaging your grade:
Although you are only required to revise one journal entry, if you revise others, I will reevaluate them. Immediately following the cover letter, place your mandatory revised journal, any other revised journals, and all 5 original journals. You should also include any journals that you’re handing in late. Here’s a final list of everything you should include the following in this order: 1) Cover letter; 2) Mandatory revised journal; 3) Any other revised journals; 4) Original Journals; 5) Any late Journals. Please simply staple everything together, or use a binder clip. No cover pages, please.

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

#6: In-class Final Exam (mostly on Unit II)--25%: No make-up dates!

Policies: Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/world08.html> for updates
Date
Class Activities
Homework Due
Unit I: Memories after 1945
W 9/3
Course + Stud. Intro.Timeline + Geography; What is world literature? Paul Celan, "Death Fugue" ; "Die Todesfuge" ; Musical Fugues Monday's reading assignment is in the cell below
2. M 9/8
Review of Celan and Course Goals; Map of Japan Reading changed owing to difficulties at Bookstore
W 9/10
Hiroshima Mon Amour (DVD #1847)   Reading changed owing to difficulties at Bookstore
4. M 9/15
Kenzaburo Oe; Introduction, “The Crazy Iris;” "Human Ashes" Read Introduction by Oe; Ibuse 9-35; Oda in Oe 63-84 (pdf on Bb); DISC. #1: Bring 3 discussion ques. to class; these will be collected (see above)
W 9/17
Review + "H. A."; "The Empty Can" Read Hayashi in Oe 127-43; Write JOURNAL #1: bring a hard copy for the instructor and post to Blackboard/Discussion Board (see above)
6. M 9/22
Maus Spiegelman 1-69
W 9/24
Maus Read Spielgelman 73-99 DISC. #2: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
8. M 9/29
Review; Maus Read Spiegelman 100-end
W 10/1
Group Ques.; Holocaust on Film (Shoah v. 3, dir. C. Lanzmann [1986], vid. # 774 & Night and Fog [1955], dir. A. Renais, vid. #2342) JOURNAL #2: bring a hard copy for the instructor and post to Blackboard/Discussion Board 
10. M 10/6
Scarlet Song: Questions Read Ba 1-60
W 10/8
Review; Ba bio + Ques.; BUBL Link on Senegal Read Ba 60-107
12. M 10/13
Scarlet Song Read Ba 108-71
W 10/15
Midterm Review JOURNAL #3: bring a hard copy for the instructor and post to Blackboard/Discussion Board
14. M 10/20
Midterm Exam (Unit I)--No make-up date! Bring all books to class and a page of notes
Unit II: World Literature?
W 10/22
Magical Realism on Film
 
Start reading ahead
16. M 10/27
Magical Realism in Literature
Read G. G. Marquez, "Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" and H. Murakami, "The Dancing Dwarf" (Bb/Readings); please bring copies to class
W 10/29
Goethe; Damrosch
Read Damrosch, 1-36; DISC. #4: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
18. M 11/3
Review; Damrosch Read Damrosch, 110-44;  JOURNAL #4: Since Damrosch doesn't offer an opportunity for "close analysis, write on any aspect of the subject of world literature. You might also answer your own or another student's discussion question from the previous class, argue against Damrosch's claims, or try to support his argument with your knowledge of world literature. Or you may write a close analysis of a passage from Garcia Marquez or Murakami.
W 11/5
Review; Damrosch Read Damrosch, 281-303
20. M 11/10
Meet in reading groups Read Hong Kingston (1-16), Garcia Marquez (1-58), or Menchu (0-37); DISC. #5: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
W 11/12
Meet in reading groups Read Hong Kingston (19-75), Garcia Marquez (59-140), or Menchu (38-86); JOURNAL #5 on Kingston, Garcia Marquez, or Menchu; Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
22. M 11/17
NEW: Meet in Sprague Library 203 (Library Tutorial)
Possibly meet with a research librarian in Sprague Library; check back online: this date may be changed, and you may have reading homework instead
W 11/19
Meet in reading groups Read Kingston (75-96), Garcia Marquez (141-201), or Menchu (87-116) 
24. M 11/24
Reading Groups; Peer review: revisions of Journals Research agenda due on Blackboard/Discussion; Read Kingston (96-139), Garcia Marquez (203-92), or Menchu (117-71); bring journals you are thinking about revising to class
W 11/26
Meet in reading groups Journal Portfolio (Revised Journal(s), 5 originals, + Critical Introduction) due; Read Kingston (139-60), Garcia Marquez (293-354), or Menchu (172-200)

26. M 12/1
Meet in reading groups; endings; GGM Nobel Prize speech DISC. #6: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected); Read Kingston (163-205/end), Garcia Marquez (355-417/end), or Menchu (201-247/end)
W 12/3
Peer review: Research Synopsis rough draft; Review for Final (Ques. 2) Research Synopsis rough draft due: bring two copies to class, and post an electronic copy to Blackboard/Discussion
28. M 12/8
Review for Final; Informal presentations of Research Synopses; Review for Final (Ques. 1) Research synopsis (hard copy) due, and post to Blackboard/Disc. Board; Presentation of research due: come prepared with a 2-3 minute summary of your Research Synopsis; optional: Participation Packet (staple or clip new/late and/or old discussion questions together); Bring Damrosch to class for review
Finals week
In-class Final Exam M 12/15 3:15-5:15 Study for final exam; Bring books (open-book exam)