English 201.40: Masterpieces in Western World Literature

Course Goals: This course seeks to familiarize students with selected masterworks of Western literature and the philosophical principles they reflect.

Course Objectives:

• Learning about early Western literature
• Considering philosophical and cultural ideas
• Identifying and examining various literary genres and critical approaches taken toward them
• Expanding your intellectual abilities as a result of the above

Course Projects: Examinations--format to be determined.

Textbook: Wilkie & Hurt, eds. Literature of the Western World: The Ancient World through the Renaissance.  Vol. I  5th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.

Course Policies: Certain simple rules provide a basis for equal treatment and evaluation of all students. These rules are listed below.

• Attend all classes on time. This is something you can always get right. If you know of a conflict ahead of time, I need to know about it, too. If an emergent situation necessitates your absence, inform me as soon as you can. Given the compressed nature of an intersession class, missing is the death knell for your passing grade.
• Hand in work on time. This is also easy to do correctly. Everything contributes to your final grade. Consider every assignment an important one (and consider any questions regarding missing anything important, should you miss class, answered). Moreover, contrary to popular myth, absence does not extend due dates or relieve you from responsibility. Thus, missing class as a method of excusing yourself from course policies will only cause an additional problem.
• Pay attention. Everything has the potential of being included on an exam or quiz. Review your notes--don't just take them down and leave them closed in your notebook. The key factor involved with paying attention, of course, is self-discipline. Anyone engaging in activities that are more suitable outside the classroom will be encouraged to relocate. Pagers, cell phones, and other distractions should be turned off before class begins.
• Do your own work. Lying, cheating, and plagiarizing always earns a zero and may lead to official disciplinary action by the University.
• Advise me of any special needs you may have immediately. WTAMU seeks to provide reasonable accommodation for all qualified persons with disabilities. This university will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to register with the Disability Support Services and to contact the faculty member in a timely fashion to arrange for suitable accommodations.
• Other policies may be instituted as needed.

Readings:
 

Epic Homer, The Odyssey Tragedy Aeschylus, Agamemnon Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, Antigone Euripides, Medea

Comedy Aristophanes, Lysistrata Philosophy Plato, The Parable of the Cave, The Apology Aristotle, The Poetics

 

Copyright © 2001 Martin M. Jacobsen, Ph.D. as to this syllabus and all lectures; materials may not be reproduced without Dr. Jacobsen's written consent. Students are prohibited from selling (or being paid for taking) notes during this course to or by any person or commercial firm without the express written permission of the professor teaching this course.