Literary Criticism and Analysis

Literary Criticism and Analysis

ENG 2213-04

HSS: 3.04.06

11 AM Fall 2010

Faculty and Office: Roberta Barki, MB 2.308

Office Hours: MWF 10-10:45AM and by request

Course Description: In this course, we will explore poetry, prose, and drama alongside major theories of the twentieth-century. Theories we will examine include, but are not limited to, Postcolonial Theory, Feminism, Third Space Feminism, New Historicism/Cultural Materialism, Marxism, and Postmodernism. Students will choose two different Theories and explicate their major components and terminologies. Students are encouraged to incorporate outside works— including music, fashion, television shows, and movies—to enhance their understand of each theoretical perspective and assist class discussions of these theories. In addition to the Literary Criticism aspect of this course, we will also engage the course texts utilizing field specific language to enhance close reading skills. We will build upon these discourses to construct unique, researched final papers that each student personally chooses and develops. We will also probe deeper questions such as: what are the movements we see happening over the course of the 20th century, in regards to theories and identity formation? How is the human body and individual identity influenced by socio-political/ socio-historical contexts? How are these realities reflected by new emerging theories, if at all? What is the role of literature? This course is required of majors and fulfills the core curriculum component area for literature, and requires completion of CORE Curriculum requirements in rhetoric prior to enrollment.

Course Texts:

Abrahms, M.H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 8th ed. Boston, MA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004.

Alexie, Sherman. Ten Little Indians. New York: Grove, 2003.

Angelou, Maya. Poems. New York: Bantam, 1993.

Anzaldua, Gloria. Borderlands/ La Frontera. 3rd ed. San Francisco, CA: Aunt Lute, 2007.

Castillo, Ana. Peel My Love Like an Onion. New York: Anchor, 1999.

Espada, Martin. Alabanza. New York: W.W. Norton, 2003.

Guerin, Wilfrid,Earle Labor, Lee Morgan, Jeanne Reesman, John Willingham, Eds. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. 6th ed. New York: Oxford UP: 2010.

Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 6th ed. New York: St. Martin’s, 2006/9.

Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. New York: Scribner, 2003.

Soyinka, Wole. Death and the King’s Horseman. New York: W.W. Norton, 1975

Course Assignments for Grades:

Terminology 1 page write ups (2 x 10%) = 20%

Mid-Term Exam = 15%

Class Participation = 20%

5-8pg Term Paper = 25%

Final Exam = 20%

* Grades can only be retrieved in person or via ASAP.

*Extra Credit will be made available for specific Group Work activities when applicable.

Class Participation

This class is discussion based and designed to provide a platform for us to converse and debate over theories and texts. As such, students should plan to vocally contribute to each class. Class participation grades are based on these contributions (ie. have you spoken at least once a week?) and in-class writing assignments that will be given during the course of the semester.

Scholastic Dishonesty Policy

According to Section 203.b of the UTSA Code of Conduct Handbook, “‘Scholastic dishonesty’ is any form of cheating or plagiarism that violates the Student Code of Conduct. Scholastic Dishonesty or academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, and any act designed to give unfair advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor, providing false or misleading information in an effort to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, or other assignment), or the attempt to commit such an act.” Any instance of plagiarism that is found will result in an immediate “F” for the assignment, potentially a failing grade for the course, and judicial action. If you are concerned at any point in the semester that you might be broaching one of these areas, please speak to me prior to handing in your work so that we can determine how to remedy the situation.

Disabilities

Students who require special accommodations for in-class work must register with Disability Services. Please visit for more information.

Class Expectations

As per the course catalog for UTSA, all students are required to come to class prepared and ready to learn. You are expected to complete all reading assignments prior to class and have all hand-in assignments ready for submission. Neither texting nor cell phone calls are permitted in class: Please turn off your phone prior to class.

Attendance Policy

You are allowed three absences for the semester. Any work missed during an excused absence must be electronically received by the professor by the end of the school day to receive credit, except where there are pending exigent circumstances. Each absence following your permitted three will reduce your final grade by 1/3 of a letter. Similarly, tardiness will also be counted towards your absences, with 6 lates representing 1 absence. Extra Credit will be offered throughout the semester to alleviate absences. Please ask professor for more information.

Schedule

Aug 25th – Introduction, Syllabus Distribution

Aug 27th – Class Expectation Contract

Canon Formation and Critical Approaches

Aug 30th – Canon Formation, Traditional Approaches, New Criticism:

Review from Handbook Pages 17-21, 74-79 and the Practice on 96-99.

Sept 1st – Reader Response

In Class Activity

Sept 3rd – Marxist Theory and Criticism

Review Handouts and Pages 125-30 in Handbook

Sept 6th – Labor Day - NO CLASS

Sept 8th – Martin Espada, Poems beginning on pages: 93, 94, 117 and worksheets

Sept 10th – Martin Espada, Poems beginning on pages: 73, 152, and select one poem to discuss

Assignment Due Today: Count the number of pawn shops in one square block of the downtown San Antonio area OR find the average number of pawn shops in major cities across the country. What areas do they tend to be centrally located in?

Sept 13th – Modernism and Postmodernism, Structuralism and Post-Structuralism

Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 319- 25 and 169-77 from Handbook

Sept 15th – Psychoanalysis

Review Handouts, Presentations, and Chapter 6 from Handbook

Sept 17th –Sun Also Rises pages 1-42

Sept 20th –Sun Also Rises pages 43-130

Sept 22nd –Sun Also Rises pages 131-191

Sept 24th –Sun Also Rises pages 192- Finish

Sept 27th – Cultural Materialism/ New Historicism

Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 130-37 from Handbook

Sept 29th – Cultural Studies

Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 305-08, 353-55 from Handbook

Oct. 1st – Critical Race Theory

Review Handouts, and pages 308-19 from Handbook

Oct. 4th – Maya Angelou

Review Poems: “The Calling of Names,” “On Working White Liberals,” “The Thirteens (Black),” “The Thirteens (White)”

Oct. 6th –Maya Angelou

Review Poems: “Africa,” “America,” “The Pusher,” “Junkie Monkey ReelOct. 8th –Maya Angelou

Review Poems: “My Arkansas,” “Through the Inner City,” “Ain’t That Bad,” “Slave Coffle”

Oct. 11th – Midterm Exam

Oct. 13th – Postcolonial Theory

Review Handouts, Presentations, and pages 361-71 from Handbook

Oct. 15th – Transculturation, Contact Zones, and Border Theory

Review Handouts, Fanon Chapter, and Chapter 1 from Borderlands

Oct. 18th – Wole Soyinka

Review Act 1 and socio-political and historical overview of Yoruba culture

Oct. 20th – Wole Soyinka

Review Acts 2 and 3 of Death and the King’s Horseman

Oct. 22nd – Wole Soyinka

Review Acts 4 and 5

Oct. 25th – Feminism

Review Handouts, Class Presentations, and Handbook pgs 253- 260-64, 270-75

Oct. 27th – Queer Theory

Review Handouts, Class Presentations, Handbook pgs 275-78, and Borderlands Chapter 2

Oct. 29th – Third Space Feminism

Review Handouts, Class Presentations, Handbook pgs 264-70, and Boderlands Chapter 3

Nov. 1st – Peel My Love Like an Onion,

Opening poems and Chapters 1 and 2; Submit Chosen Theoretical Perspective

Nov. 3rd –Peel My Love Like an Onion

Chapters 3 and 4

Nov. 5th –Peel My Love Like an Onion

Chapters 5 and 6

Nov. 8th –Peel My Love Like an Onion

Chapters 7 and 8

Nov.10th –Peel My Love Like an Onion

Chapters 9 and 10

Nov.12th – Library Research Day

Nov. 15th – Library Research Day

Nov. 17th – Alexie, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” 169-79

Nov. 19th – Alexie, “What You…” 179-89

Provide Research List

Nov. 22nd – Alexie, “What You…” 189-finish

Nov. 24th – Alexie- Student Choice

Nov. 26th – Thanksgiving Holiday – NO CLASS

Nov. 29th – Exam Preparation

TERM PAPER DUE

Dec. 1st – Exam Preparation

Dec. 3rd – Exam Preparation

FINAL EXAM: Monday 13-Dec 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Study Dates: December 6-7, 2010; Final Grades are Due December 17, 2010

*This syllabus is subject to change