Spring 2010
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Department of English
English 108: Topics in British LiteratureGary Lim
Telephone: 334-5477
Office / hours: McIver 112 / MWF: 11.00– 11.50; MW: 2.00–3.15
Email: / ENG 108.3
Subject Hours: 3
Schedule: Mon 3.30–4.45 pm
Wed 3.30–4.45 pm
Location: MHRA 2209
Topics in British Literature: "Marriage"
"To speak of the woe that is in marriage …" Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Prologue
Throughout history, writers of English literature have been fascinated by marriage. In this course, we will examine how texts take up marriage to explore the human condition, instruct about proper behavior, expose social hypocrisy, and, of course, entertain readers. We begin with a pair of short stories that dramatize the tensions between arranged marriages and modern desire. Next, we examine two medieval stories and consider how a husband's authority over his wife is represented and undermined by fiction. Extending our investigations into drama, we then explore how spousal fidelity and betrayal as well as the agency of wives structure Shakespeare's and Wycherly's plays. After this, we will read several poems that express emotions (normal and pathological) often associated with the married state. With Pride and Prejudice, we will consider how marriage represents various social values and obsessions. We end the course with On Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan's exploration of social expectation and unconsummated desire.
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature;
· Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature. These characteristics include narrative voice and point of view, tone, the distinction between story and plot, characterization, the use of setting, irony, and figurative language.
· Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts, leading to the ability to articulate the relationship between form and meaning in texts.
· Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing by considering how similar themes are handled differently across two or more works.
· Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted after having considered how narratives convey artistic, ideological, and political points of view, and having gained a sense of how social and historical contexts influence our reading of narratives.
Texts
The following texts must be obtained. The UNCG Bookstore has the required texts.
· William Shakespeare Pericles (Folger Shakespeare Library, 2005: ISBN 9780743273299)
· William Wycherley The Country Wife (New Mermaids, 1991: ISBN 0713666889)
· Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (Penguin Classics, 2003: ISBN 9780141439518)
· Ian McEwan On Chesil Beach (Anchor, 2007: ISBN 9780307386175)
It would be best to purchase the editions that I have listed as referencing specific portions in our discussions will be facilitated if we are all (literally) on the same page. I have uploaded all other readings to Blackboard. (Look under "Required Reading"). Make sure that your university computer account is active so that you can access these materials. Print the relevant readings and bring them for each class.
Attendance Policy
Students are allowed three absences without a grade penalty. For every absence beyond those allowed, students will be penalized one-half letter grade (e.g. a B becomes a C+). Students who miss six classes will fail the course. There is no distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence.
Assessment and Grading
· Reading Journal Entries [5 @ 4 % each] – 20%
· Mid-term exam – 15 %
· Final exam – 25 %
· Class and online participation – 10 %
· In-class writing, short responses, and quizzes – 15 %
· Discussion leader – 5 %
· Online discussion group – 10%
Reading Journals
Over the course of the semester, you will write five reading journal responses. Each entry should respond to a different text and be at least 400 words long. Each reading response must be posted to Blackboard BEFORE the class-session on that assigned reading. For example, if we are scheduled to discuss "Heaven-Hell" on Jan 27, your reading journal entry on the text must be posted before class commences at 3.30 p.m. on that day. You should journal about each work only once. Each reading journal entry should be a thoughtful response to a thematic or stylistic element of the text. A summary of the material does not count as a journal entry. These reading entries are meant for you to demonstrate that you have done the reading, are engaging with the material in a thoughtful manner, and are developing your own ideas about the texts. I have posted a sample journal entry as well as some general guidelines on Blackboard.
Each journal entry should be posted to the appropriate "Discussion Board" that I have created on Blackboard. This will allow the entire class to read and respond to your thoughts.
Discussion Leader
Each student will sign up to lead the class in a brief discussion of an assigned reading. This will involve getting the class to respond to questions that that you come up with as well as a brief analysis of a passage of your choice. I have posted detailed instructions and sample questions on Blackboard.
Online Discussion Group
I will place you into discussion groups and you will use Blackboard to conduct discussions about each text within your group. Each group should discuss one medieval text, one play, one poem, and one novel. Groups should meet early in the semester to decide which texts you wish to discuss. You will be assessed on how well you respond to each other's comments and active discussion will be rewarded. Even though you will discuss the texts in groups, individual grades will be assigned.
Class participation
In addition to the attendance policy, you are expected to contribute in class discussions. There will be opportunities to ask me and your classmates questions, answer questions, and share your perspectives with the whole class or in small groups. Make sure that you are prepared to engage in intellectual discussion for each session. Further, you may participate "online" by posting responses to your classmates' reading journal entries.
Reading the Texts
You will only be able to contribute intelligently to class sessions if you do the required reading beforehand. Further, close textual analysis will be required in all your assignments and exams, and this will be best cultivated if you are conscientious about keeping up with the reading assigned for each class. While the reading schedule may appear daunting, I hope you will derive a sense of accomplishment from reading several full-length narratives thoughtfully within a relatively short span of time. While summaries of the texts are widely available, relying on these will not enable you to develop the in-depth engagement with the works that is required if you wish to do well in this course.
Academic Integrity
"Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at <http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy. Exams and assignments that violate the Academic Integrity Policy will receive an F.
Disabilities
Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about accommodations as soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services on campus before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail: .
Laptop Policy
Laptops may be used in class only to take notes pertaining to our class or to view documents on our Blackboard website. Any student who uses a laptop for any non-classroom activity during class time will not be allowed to use a laptop in class again. To be perfectly clear: one violation means no laptop use.
Reading and Class Schedule
Week / Monday / Wednesday /Jan 20 / Introduction to course
1/ Jan 25 & 27 / Rushdie, "Good Advice Is Rarer than Rubies" / Lahiri, "Hell–Heaven"
2/ Feb 1 & 3 / Chaucer [trans. Nevill Coghill], The Clerk's Tale (pp. 322–38) / Chaucer [trans. Nevill Coghill], The Clerk's Tale (pp. 338–54)
3/ Feb 8 & 10 / Chestre [trans. James Weldon], Sir Launfal / Quiz / Short Response Test
4/ Feb 15 & 17 / Shakespeare, Pericles (Act 1 to 2.3, pp. 3–71) / Shakespeare, Pericles (Act 2.4 to end of Act 3, pp. 71–111)
5/ Feb 22 & 24 / Shakespeare, Pericles (Acts 4 & 5, pp. 115–89) / Wycherley, The Country Wife (Act 1, pp. 35–60 )
6/ Mar 1 & 3 / Wycherley, The Country Wife (Acts 2 & 3, pp. 60 –119) / Wycherley, The Country Wife (Acts 4 & 5, pp. 119–93)
7/ Mar 8 & 10 / Spring Break – No Class
8/ Mar 15 & 17 / Review in preparation for Mid-Term / Mid-Term Exam
9/ Mar 22 & 24 / Poetry 1: Anon. "The Wife's Lament"; Pound, "The River Merchant's Wife"; Donne "The Anniversarie" / Poetry 2: Browning, "My Last Duchess"; Lowell, "To Speak of the Woe That Is in Marriage"; Olds "The Wedding Vow"
10/ Mar 29 & 31 / Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Vol 1, chap 1-15, pp. 5–73) / Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Vol 1, chap 16-23, pp. 74–128)
11/ Apr 5 & 7 / Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Vol 2, chap 1-13, pp. 131–203) / Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Vol 2, chap 14-Vol 3, chap 1, pp. 204–47)
12/ Apr 12 & 14 / Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Vol 3, chap 2-9, pp. 248–303) / Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Vol 3, chap 10-19, pp. 304–67)
13/ Apr 19 & 21 / McEwan, On Chesil Beach (pp. 3–76) / McEwan, On Chesil Beach (pp. 76–122)
14/ Apr 26 & 28 / McEwan, On Chesil Beach (pp. 122–63) / McEwan, On Chesil Beach (pp. 169–203)
15/ May 3 & 5 / Review in preparation for Final / Reading Day – No Class
May 12 / Final Exam – Wed, May 12 3.30 pm.