MahopacHigh School /MaristCollege

College English: Semester One

Introduction to Literature

ENG 255L-375

Fall 2007

Required Texts:

Discoveries: Fifty Stories of the Quest, H. Schechter, J.G. Semeiks

Sound and Sense: Introduction to Poetry,T. Arp, G. Johnson,

Thompson/Wadsworth, eleventh edition

The Temple of Gold,Goldman, W.

Winesburg, Ohio, Anderson, S.

I. Objectives

To guide students to an informed appreciation of fiction and poetry;

To have students read more analytically through the study archetypalpatterns in storytelling and poetic language and prosody;

To familiarize students with the tools of the fictionwriter and poet;

To have students reach a greater self-awareness through the study offictional heroes, and to have students see their career endeavors asheroic quests;

II. Topics

Fictional elements of character, plot, setting, point-of-view, mood, tone,theme; literary devices of foreshadowing, symbolism, imagery,allusion, and irony;

Archetypal patterns in literature: quest, rite of passage, tragedy of the

loss of innocence, the sacrificial hero, horror;

Elements of poetry: imagery, symbolism, tone, figurative language, musical language, rhythm and meter, fixed forms.

III. Methodology

Lectures, discussions, student presentations, group work, guidesheets, film

IV. Writing Tasks

Each student will prepare three (3)papers:two (2)on a mythologicalanalysis of a single story/novel; a third on poetry. Eachstudent should be prepared to present his/her paper orally. One (1) - pagestory/poetry analysis journals summarizing observations and reactions to each story and poem are due the first class session of each week. Pleasekeepit to one page. Anything beyond one page willnotbe read. (Usesize ten font if necessary, and follow the “ReadingAnalysisJournal”format attached.) The poetry paper format is also attached.

IMPORTANT: print two (2) copies of each paper the day yourpaper is due.

V. Class Procedure

You should expect a quiz onyour readings each Monday. A “0” will be given if you are illegally absent. Students with perfect attendance will be allowed to drop the lowest quiz grade.

Of course, make sure you come to class prepared and a desire toparticipate.

Evaluation:Your grade will be determined by the following:

  • 30%- Literary Analysis papers + paper #3
  • 30%- Final exam on poetry + paper #2

mid-term exam

  • 20%- Reading quizzes

(including summer reading)

  • 10%- Journal analyses
  • 10%- Class participation

Those who significantly contribute to class discussions will have points added to their final grade.

VI. General Requirements

  1. All work must be typed in Times New Roman twelve-size font, double-spaced, and stapled. Remember to save often, and back-up all work on disk. See the attached sheet for the mythological analysesformat for (papers one & two) and the poetry analysis (paper #3).
  1. All work must be submitted on time. No late work will be accepted. E-mail assignments by class time Mondayif you are going to miss class.
  1. Attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences will result in a zero being issued for all work assigned that day.
  1. Be on-time. If you must report late, you must have a pass. If you do not have a pass, the tardiness will adversely affect your class participation grade.
  1. Plagiarismwill not be tolerated. If you plagiarize a paper, youwill receive an F for that paper and possibly the course.
  1. We will devote a great deal of class time discussing the readings and relevant issues. Class participation is a significant part of your grade. Please remember to be courteous at all times.

Assignment Schedule

Week 19/5:Course overview; summer reading exam Thursday-Friday

Week 29/10:Introductory lecture

Discoveries pp. 3-24;

“The Island at Noon”; “The Story of an Hour”

Week 39/17:pp. 95-98; “He & I”; “Yellow Woman”

Week 49/24:pp. 187-190; “Babylon Revisited”; “Through the Tunnel”

Week 510/1:pp.316-319; “The Poet”; “The Conversion of the Jews”

Week 610/8:pp. 404-407; “Araby”; “The Middle Drawer”

Week 7: 10/15: pp. 499-501; “The Horse-Dealer’s Daughter”; “Twin Beds

in Rome”

Week 8:10/22:Winesburg, Ohio: the study of novel

Week 9:10/29:The Temple of Gold: paper two (2) for all; novel study

concludes

Week 10:11/5:Exam on fiction (Mid-term exam)

Second quarter poetry assignments will be determined and distributed.

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