Prof. W. C. Nielsen   

Introduction to World Literature (Fall 2006)

Blue Marbles, NASA
Blue Marbles, NASA


ENLT 206-03
MR, 11:30 AM-12:45 PM (11270);
Mondays in University Hall 2025; Thursdays in University Hall 2010
Fall 2006
http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/wlit06.html
<http://english.montclair.edu>

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Dickson Hall 324
Office Hours: Mondays 10-11:30, Thursdays
1-2:30, & by appt.
nielsenw@SPAMGUARDmail.montclair.edu

Required Texts available at University Bookstore:
Requirements--Respect, Integrity, Collegiality, and: Course description: What is the “coming of age” experience after 1945, which marked the end of several global atrocities (the Atom Bomb, the Holocaust) and the beginning of new revolutions for individuals, communities, and nations? How does fiction from East and West represent these changes? In this introduction to World Literature course, we will read books in pairs (from a Western and non-Western perspective) on the aftermath of World War II; the postcolonial experience and the revolutions of the 1960s; and magical realism. Literature from Africa, Europe, East Asia, and South America--including a few Nobel Prize winners, Kenzaburo Oe, Pablo Neruda, and Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude)—will help students appreciate the way literature reflects and shapes global issues.  Satisfies: 1c (other literature); 3: genre (fiction); 4a (multinational); 4c (women writers); GER 1983/2002: F1 (World Literature)

Policies:
Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/wlit06.html> for updates

Date
Class Activities
Reading / Homework Due
Unit I: Postwar Europe and Asia
1. R 9/7
Course/student introduction; 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 9/11
Review of Course Goals; Kenzaburo Oe; Introduction, “The Crazy Iris” ; Map of Japan Oe and Ibuse 9-35
3. R 9/14
Review of Week 1; “Human Ashes”; In-class writing: Your interpretations Oda in Oe 63-84; DISC. #1: Bring 3 discussion ques. to class (will be collected), either 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 evaluated on a check (average, show you did the reading), check plus (insightful, original, possibly brilliant, probably shared during class), or check minus (you didn't do the reading or simply copied questions discussed in class) basis. Discussion questions are not mandatory but are taken into consideration for your Participation Grade. See also note in Policies above.
4. M 9/18
Review; “The Colorless Paintings”; "The Empty Can" Sata in Oe 113-25; Hayashi in Oe 127-43
5. R 9/21
Hiroshima Mon Amour
Duras 1-52
6. M 9/25
Review; Hiroshima Mon Amour; In-class writing: Why world literature? Duras; 53-112 DISC. #2: Bring 3 discussion ques. to class
Unit II: Postcolonial Africa
7. R 9/28
Review; Scarlet Song Ba 3-44
8. M 10/2
Review; Ba bio + Ques.; BUBL Link on Senegal Ba 45-100; FYI: MSU Study Abroad Fair W Oct. 4, 10-2 in SC Ballrooms
9. R 10/5
Scarlet Song; In-class writing Ba 103-29; DISC. #3: Bring 3 discussion ques. to class
10. M 10/9
Review; Scarlet Song: Questions Ba 130-71
11. R 10/12
Cloud Nine; British Empire
Churchill xx-15
12. M 10/16
 Cloud Nine Churchill  15-57; DISC. #4: Bring 3 disc. ques to class
13. R 10/19
Review; Cloud Nine; Midterm Review Churchill 58-87
14. M 10/23
Midterm--No make-up date!! Be there or be out of luck!!! Study for midterm; Bring books (open-book exam)
Unit III: Magical Realism
15. R 10/26
Gabriel Garcia Marquez Writing Project: sign-up; Close-reading Exercise Marquez 1-40
16. M 10/30
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Library Workshop (Sprague Library, Room 203)
Marquez 41-86; DISC. #5: Bring 3 discussion ques to class
17. R 11/2
Review; Student Ques.; Student Analysis; Solitude and each Character; Meet in groups Marquez 87-111; Analyze 3-5 sentence passage closely and write 1 page about it; bring 1 copy to class and post to Blackboard/Discussion
18. M 11/6
WP#1: Marquez bio; Solitude in each character
Marquez 112-53; [NEW] complete chart on "Solitude in each Character" and bring to class -- everyone EXCEPT members of Group #1
19. R 11/9
WP #3: Magical Realism; Party Game Marquez 154-95
20. M 11/13
WP #2: Colombia
Marquez 197-239; 2-page drafts due for Groups #1, 2, & 3 (typed hard copy or post to Blackboard/Discussion)
21. R 11/16
United Fruit Chronology; Guatemala Documentation Project; Obit. for JAB Marquez 241-87; DISC. #6: Bring 3 discussion ques to class
22. M 11/20
WP #4: Literary Criticism I
Marquez 289-337
23. M 11/27
Review; One Hundred Years of Solitude and First-world Readers; GGM's Nobel Prize Speech Marquez 339-81
24. R 11/30
WP #5: Literary Criticism II
Marquez 383-427; 2-page drafts due for Groups #4 & 5
25. M 12/4
Peer review Marquez 429-58; Bring a draft of Writing Project to class & post to Blackboard/Discussion
26. R 12/7
World Literature on Film Writing Projects due
27. M 12/11
García Márquez, "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"; Coming of Age: Like Water for Chocolate and the Mexican Revolution (1910-20)
"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" (Blackboard/online--bring copy to class)
28. R 12/14
Free Write; Haruki Murakami: "The Dancing Dwarf;" Review for Final Murakami, "The Dancing Dwarf" (Blackboard/Online); Optional: Participation Portfolio due (discussion questions, in-class writing assignments, homeworks, etc.); Last day to turn in late formal writing assignments
Final Exam Week
In-class Final Exam on Monday 12/18 @ 1-3pm, room TBA--absolutely no make-up dates!
Projects and Portfolios returned

Wendy C. Nielsen, "Modern European Novel" on WCN Home, <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/novel06.html>, Sept. 2006