English 3353—Social Class and Literature Spring 2006
Topic: Transatlantic Representations of Social Class
CRN 20948/21914Tues. 5:30-6:45 p.m.Room: A700/ITV3 Credits
Dr. Sandra Dahlberg
Phone: 713-221-8949Email:
Office Hours: TBA
Required Texts:
Ali, MonicaBrick Lane
Dickens, CharlesGreat Expectations
Ishiguro, KazuoRemains of the Day
Shaw, George BernardPygmalion
Other Primary Texts:
Alger, Horatio.from Ragged Dick, Negotiating Difference, eds. Bizzell &
Herzberg, Boston, Bedford, 1996: 426-449.
Lawrence, D.H.“Odour of Chrysanthemums,” Longman Anthology of
British Literature, 2nd ed., ed. David Damrosch, New York, Longman, 2003, 2647-2660.
Melville, Herman“The Paradise of Bachelors” and “The Tartarus of Maids,”
The Heath Anthology of American Literature, 5th ed., ed. Paul Lauter, New York, Houghton Mifflin, 2006: 2651-2668.
Secondary and Critical Texts:
Bhabha, Homi K. “Of Mimicry and Man,” The Location of Culture, New
York, Routledge, 1994: 85-92.
Foucault, Michel.from “The Body of the Condemned,” The Foucault Reader,
Ed. Paul Rabinow, New York: Pantheon Books,
1984: 170-178.206-213.
---,from “Docile Bodies,” The Foucault Reader, ed. Paul
Rabinow, New York, Pantheon Books, 1984: 179-187.
---, from “Panopticism,” The Foucault Reader, ed. Paul
Rabinow, New York, Pantheon Books, 1984:
Marx, Karl. from The Manifesto of the Communist Party, Literary
Theory: An Anthology, eds. Rivkin & Ryan, Malden, MA, Blackwell, 1998: 256-261.
from “Wage Labor and Capital,” Literary Theory: An
Anthology, eds. Rivkin & Ryan, Malden, MS, Blackwell, 1998: 262-267.
Mills, Sara.“Gender and Colonial Space,” Feminist Postcolonial
Theory: A Reader, eds. Reina Lewis and Sara Mills, New York, Routledge, 2003: 692-719.
UK Sites:
British Museum
Museum of London (depictions of Newgate for Dickens, Marx, and Foucault)
Inns of Court (relates to Melville and dramatic performances)
Thomas Corum Foundation for Children
Dickens’ House
A Manor House
Theatrical Performance (to be determined)
Course Description:
The United States regularly portrays itself as a classless society often in direct comparison to the classed culture of the United Kingdom. Yet, American class hierarchies exist, and many are derived from British cultural practices, especially those during the Imperial Age. Americans simultaneously reject rigid class demarcations yet are enthralled by the prestige they generate, thereby creating a great deal of psychic ambiguity. This course will look at the ways in which literature and critical theory engages this transatlantic dialogue about the representations of social class identity and the cultural realities of class status.
Prerequisite—3 hours of literature.
Assignments and Grading:
Quizzes, 2 @ 100 points each (3 given, lowest dropped)…….…….200 points
Presentation (on-site in UK) .……………………………………….150 points
Theory Paper …………….……………………………………….....150 points
Literary Analysis Paper …………..……………. …………………..200 points
Participation and Attendance (see below) ……………………...…...150 points
Final Exam ……………………………………………..……………150 points
Total possible points for the course: …………………………………….1000 points
Grade Distribution:
900-1000 = A
800-899 = B
700-799 = C
600-699 = D
500-599 = F
Participation and Attendance:
Fifteen percent of your grade is based on your active and thoughtful participation in class discussions both at UHD and in the UK. In the UK, you MUST attend all of the scheduled class events. During discussion mindless chatter and/or uninformed responses will not result in a satisfactory participation grade. I expect everyone to read all materials completely and carefully. This means that some of the materials, particularly the theory, will need to be read and re-read. Warming a chair, but not speaking, will not result in a satisfactory participation grade. Likewise, I expect you to be in class on time as we have much ground to cover in our limited contact hours here in the U.S. Because we meet only once a week, more than one absence during the semester in the U.S. will result in a grade reduction of 50 points per absence. As this course meets just once a week, one absence is the equivalent of missing an entire week. In the UK, if you are late to an event, or miss an event, it will be noted and your grade adjusted accordingly. In terms of participation, I also expect that discussions and debates will be conducted in a respectful and collegial manner.
Post-London Class Sessions
The travel dates for the trip to England are May 15-24. We will meet as a class once upon our return from England, on Friday, May 26, for post-trip discussion. You must attend this class session. Your final course paper (the literary analysis paper) will be due by Friday, June 2 and your final exam will be given on June 2 as well. I know this extends into the summer term, but with the time between devoted to travel, we will have to adjust. Also, I want to allow you time after your return to incorporate your experiences in England into your papers and your final exam.
Late Paper Policy:
Assignments are due on the dates listed on the syllabus. Late papers will accrue deductions equal to one full letter grade for each late calendar day up to three deductions, after which the paper receives a grade of zero (not an F). If you email a paper to me, be sure to confirm receipt of the file. You are fully responsible for making sure I receive a complete paper.
Exams:
I will give no make-up quizzes.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the intentional or unintentional use of another person’s ideas, words, or images. This is not an introductory course and I expect you to be familiar with proper citation procedures for quotes and paraphrased material. Your inability to properly cite sources, or your intentional or unintentional misuse of material will result in a zero for the assignment. Intentional plagiarism will be prosecuted to the full extent allowed at UHD, which can include failing the assignment and/or the course. See the UHD policy on plagiarism in your Student Handbook.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
UHD adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students who need accommodation must register with Disabled Student Services and provide me with the accommodation materials from DSS in a timely manner and thus ensure effective accommodation.
Schedule of Daily Assignments:
Reading assignments are listed by the date that they will be discussed in class. Plan ahead so that you come to class with that material read.
January 17Introduction to course
January 24Alger and Marx(you need not read “Commodities” but it is available)
January 31Foucault (all readings)
February 7Quiz #1; Lawrence
February 14Melville
February 21Bhabha
February 28Dickens (read entire novel for class discussion)
March 7Dickens
Spring Break—March 13-18 (Over break view Manor House in preparation for Shaw
and Ishiguro.)
March 21Due: Theory Paper; Shaw (read entire play for class discussion)
March 28Shaw
April 4Quiz #2; Mills
April 11Ishiguro (read entire novel for class discussion)
April 18Ishiguro
April 25Ali (read entire novel for class discussion)
May 2Ali
In England: Quiz #3; and Presentation (TBA)
Post-trip class session: Friday, May 26 (time to be announced)
Final Exam: Friday, June 2 (Literary analysis paper due)