Prof. Marilyn Francus
English 225
Western World Literature
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00-2:15
233 Brooks Hall
Office: 443 Stansbury Hall
Office Phone: 304-293-3107 X442
E-Mail: mfrancus@mix.wvu.edu (alternate: yfrancus@bellatlantic.net)
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2:30-4:30 and by appointment.

January 13 Introduction; Sappho's poetry (Norton Anthology, pp. 515-517)
January 15 Homer, The Odyssey, Books I-IV (pp. 209-262)

January 20 Homer, The Odyssey, Books V-X (pp. 262-3313
January 22 Homer, The Odyssey, Books XI-XII (pp. 331-360)

January 27 Homer, The Odyssey, Books XIII-XIX (pp. 360-458)
January 29 Homer, The Odyssey, Books XX-XXIV (pp. 458-514)

February 3 Virgil, The Aeneid, excerpts from Books I, II, and IV (pp. 814-868)
February 5 Virgil, The Aeneid, excerpts from Books VI, VIII, and XII (pp. 868-895)

February 10 Ovid, selections from Metamorphoses (pp. 895-943)
February 12 Exam I

February 17 Dante, The Inferno (pp. 1293 - 1339)
February 19 Dante, The Inferno (pp. 1339-1383)

February 24 Dante, The Inferno (pp. 1383-1409)
February 26 Navarre, selections from The Heptameron (pp. 1854- 1880)

March 2 Montaigne, selections from The Essays (1921 -1960)
March 4 Cervantes, Don Quixote, Vol. I, Ch. 1-14 (Raffel trans., pp. 7-80)

March 9 Cervantes, Don Quixote, Vol. I, Ch. 15-22 (Raffel trans., pp. 81-134)
March 11 Cervantes, Don Quixote, Vol. I, Ch. 23-36 (Raffel trans., pp. 135-254)

March 16-18 Spring Break

March 23 Cervantes, Don Quixote, Vol. I, Ch. 37-41 (Raffel trans, pp. 254-291)
March 25 Cervantes, Don Quixote, Vol. I, Ch. 42-52; Vol. II, Ch. 1-4 (pp. 291-355; 359-383)

March 30 Exam II
April 1 Goethe, Faust, Part 1

April 6 Class Cancelled
April 8 Goethe, Faust, Part 1

April 13 Flaubert, Madame Bovary (Wall trans., pp. 3-122)
April 15 Flaubert, Madame Bovary (Wall trans., 122-173)

April 20 Flaubert, Madame Bovary (Wall trans., 173-275)
April 22 Flaubert, Madame Bovary (Wall trans., pp. 275-327)

April 27 Kafka, Metamorphosis (pp. 3-58)
April 29 Conclusion

May 4 Essay Assignment Due

Textbooks: The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, Volume 1, Seventh Edition; Don Quixote (the Norton Critical Edition, translated by Burton Raffel); Goethe's Faust (the Anchor edition, translated by Walter Kauffmann); Madame Bovary (the Penguin edition, translated by Geoffrey Wall); and Metamorphosis (the Bantam edition, translated by Stanley Corngold).

Course Description: In Western World Literature we will analyze some of the most famous and influential works of Western literature–works that constitute a canon of narrative and reference that still pervades contemporary culture. Star Wars and the Harry Potter books owe a debt to Homer's Odyssey, just as Spiderman and The X-Men nod to Ovid and Kafka. In this course we will discuss the recurrent themes that characterize the Western canon, and use a number of critical strategies (historicist, feminist, Marxist, psychoanalytic) to analyze these texts. We will also discuss the issues of canonicity and canon formation: why are these works so famous and influential? Who determines literary value and influence, and how are such determinations made? How do cultural texts remain influential? In the process, we will begin to excavate models of cultural circulation, cultural capital, nationalism, and ideology.

Course Objectives:

1. To introduce students to the academic discourse regarding canons and canon formation.

2. To evaluate canonical works of Western literature in light of genre, mode, and ideology.

3. To analyze the ways in which canonical works of Western literature continue to circulate in their

original forms as well as well as through allusion, adaptation, and appropriation.

4. To introduce a series of critical methodologies to guide students through literary

and cultural texts.

5. To provide practice in critical thinking and writing about literature.

Course Requirements: Two examinations, quizzes, and a final essay assignment. You will be expected to keep up with the reading, participate in class discussion, and check your MIX e-mail account at least twice a week

Grading

1. Each examination counts for 25% of your final grade. The examinations will consist of short

answer questions and short essays; you will be able to choose among questions and essays.

2. Five reading quizzes will be given during the course of the semester. T he dates of these quizzes

will not be announced in advance. The quizzes will be brief (ten minutes) and focus on data

regarding plot, character, imagery, and theme in our readings. The top four quiz grades will be

averaged, and constitute 25% of your final grade.

3. The final essay assignment for counts for 25% of your final grade. The final essay assignment

will require approximately 5 pages of writing, and you will be given an array of essay topics.

4. If you know in advance that you cannot attend an examination (for instance, because of a

University excuse), please contact me at once, and a make-up examination will be arranged.

Otherwise, there are no make-ups for missed examinations.

5. Class participation will be taken into consideration for students with borderline grades.

Grading Criteria:

A (90-100) - Excellent work; the assignments for this course have been completed in a professional and timely manner. The written assignments are clearly organized, choose compelling evidence to substantiate the analysis, and engage with the subject at hand in a thoughtful and thought-provoking manner. Written work requires no substantive or stylistic revisions, whether it appears on an exam, a quiz, or in an essay.

B (80-89) - Good work; the assignments for the course have been completed in a professional and timely manner. The written assignments show substantial engagement with the subject at hand, but the analysis is either partially incomplete, involving weak evidence, or manifests some difficulty with organization. Written work, whether on a test, an essay, or a quiz, requires some substantive revisions but few or no stylistic ones.

C (70-79) - Average work; the assignments for the course have been completed, but not necessarily in a professional or timely manner. The written assignments show effort by the student, but the analysis is incomplete, includes inappropriate evidence (or a lack of evidence), or shows significant difficulties with organization. Written work, whether on a test, an essay, or a quiz, requires significant substantive or stylistic revisions.

D (60-69) - Less than average work; the assignments for the course have not been completed in a professional or timely manner. The written assignments show a lack of effort on the part of the student, and a lack of engagement with the assignment (exam, quiz, or essay). Written assignments lack analysis, evidence, and organization; extensive substantive and stylistic revisions are necessary.

F (<59) - Inadequate work; the assignments for the course have not been completed. Written assignments, when submitted, show a significant lack of effort on the part of the student, and a lack of engagement with the assignment and the subject matter of the course. Such work is marked by the absence of analysis, evidence, and organization; engagement with the course materials is necessary before extensive revisions are even possible.

Submission of Assignments and Examinations

1. All papers are to be typed, with sufficient space in the margins for comments. Papers should be double spaced.

2. Your papers and examinations should reflect careful reading and thinking about your subject. Do not summarize the plot of a work or rephrase your class notes in your papers or examinations.

3. It is highly recommended that you keep a photocopy or a back-up disk of every take home ~

assignment that you hand in.

4. Hand in assignments on time. Late submissions will receive a lower grade unless the student has a

viable reason (such as illness, familial emergency) for his/her lateness. Your grade will be

lowered a fraction for every day your work is late (ex. B to B- for one day late).

5. Please bring blue books and writing implements to examinations. Please write legibly.

Plagiarism

As noted in the Undergraduate Catalog, "West Virginia University expects that every member of its

academic community shares the historic and traditional commitment to honesty, integrity, and the

search for truth" (p. 52). As a professional academic and as a member of this University I concur

with this statement, and accordingly, plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Please note the

University definition of plagiarism, as explained in the Undergraduate Catalog: "To take or pass off 17

as one's own the ideas, writings, artistic products, etc. of someone else; for example, submitting,

without appropriate acknowledgment, a report, notebook, speech, outline theme, thesis, dissertation,

or other written, visual, or oral material that has been knowingly obtained or copied in whole or in

part, from the work of others, whether such source is published, including (but not limited to) another

individual's academic composition, compilation, or other product, or commercially prepared paper"

(p. 52). If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, collaborative projects, documentation of

your sources, or related issues, please feel free to ask.

Attendance

1. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of every class. You are granted a maximum of three

absences during the course of the semester. If this limit is exceeded without an acceptable excuse

(such as illness, familial emergency), your grade will be lowered accordingly (one letter grade for

each additional three unexcused absences) and/or the student will be asked to leave the course.

2. Come to class on time.

Social Justice Policy

West Virginia University is committed to social justice. I concur with that commitment and expect to foster a nurturing environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and nondiscrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national origin. Any suggestions as to how to further such a positive and open environment in this class will be appreciated and given serious considerahon.

If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements with Disability Services (293-6700).