The Scandal of Ulysses
Mr. Hastings
In this course, we will undertake a diligent study of James Joyce’s modernist epic Ulysses. This revolutionary work of fiction shattered conventional narrative styles by use of the silent monologue technique, through which Joyce allows his reader unprecedented access into the quirky, brilliant, conflicted, and scattered minds of Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom, and, in the final episode, Molly Bloom. Through his use of irony, Joyce deviates from traditional literary archetypes in his creation of Bloom, a hero figure for the modern world.
Due to the complex nature of this masterpiece of world literature, our discussions will engage Joyce’s biographical information, the structural framework of the novel, and the ideas lurking behind the sources to which he alludes throughout the book.
My daily expectations consist of every student coming to class thoroughly prepared to discuss the assigned reading. This does not mean a quick once-over in the halls before the beginning of class. Rather, intelligent reading of literature demands close analysis with a pen and/or highlighter in hand, notes written in the margins, and your questions and most profound insights articulated in the Forum. This level of preparation will lead to the development of your own ideas regarding the text, which I hope you will contribute to lively class discussions.
Given the density of this novel, nightly reading assignments will rarely exceed 20 pages of text. This principle of fairness unfortunately requires that we trim and skim certain sections of the novel. Students are certainly invited to read these sadly neglected pages on their own time, but these sections will not be formally assessed.
All course materials, including calendars, assignments, and other resources, will be kept up to date on the course moodle page.
Elements of the Course:
Quizzes: To encourage your diligent attention to the nightly reading assignments, I will give cumulative reading quizzes consisting of a series of two or three questions asked at the beginning of each class.
Tutorials: On bump days, we will meet in my office for a more intimate and open discussion of the book. I will take a backseat to your conversation, and each student should arrive with points and/or questions. Your group will be evaluated on the quality and equal distribution of the conversation. Each tutorial will be worth a quiz grade.
Forum: All students will have the opportunity to participate in an online discussion located on the Moodle page. Each student is required to post at least ten times throughout the semester. The Forum posts collectively will be worth an essay grade.
Papers: This course consists of two 4-6 page papers: a research paper, a textually focused argument, and/or a creative piece. The individual student’s inspiration and personal interests will determine the order in which the student writes these essays. Late papers without an approved extension will result in a loss of 5 points initially and again for every 48 hours beyond the assigned due date.
Final Exam: This class will take a final exam covering all of the assigned readings, worth 20% of the final grade. The format will be largely based on accurate identification of passages and insightful interpretation of the language.
Conferencing: Mr. Hastings is happily available for one-on-one help by appointment before school, during 2nd period everyday, during 3rd period on even days, and in the Writing Center each afternoon. You may contact Mr. Hastings with urgent information or questions before 9:30 pm either via email () or cell phone (410) 917-2419.
Decorum: Punctuality is important in this course, as in real life. Reading quizzes will begin promptly at the beginning of class. Each student is afforded two make-up quiz opportunities in the semester; beyond this generous allowance for rare tardiness, you suffer zeros for the quiz that day. Gentlemen will arrive to class with their shirts tucked in.