Week 1

Oct. 25

No class

Oct. 28

Reading

• Seamus Heaney, "Digging," Death of a Naturalist (1966)

  • Digging (poem text, structure and language, etc.)

  • Seamus Heaney "Digging" (montage of Heaney reading the poem; video clip, 1:38 min.)

  • Adam Kirsch, "Seamus Heaney, Digging with the Pen" (2006)

• Edna St. Vincent Millay, "I, being born a woman and distressed"

  • On "I, being born a woman and distressed" (criticism)

• Robert Herrick, "Delight in Disorder" (1648)

  • Robert Herrick, "Delight in Disorder"

  • Ben Jonson, "Still to be neat, still to be drest" (1609; see also questions and the two poems side by side)

  • Robert Herrick

• Amryl Johnson, "Granny in de Market Place"

  • Victor Questel, "Judge Dreadword"

  • Walter F. Edwards, "Speech Acts in Guyana: Communicating Ritual and Personal Insults" (1979)

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 1–6

Week 2

Nov. 1

Reading

• Robert Frost, "Design" (1916)

  • Robert Frost, "In White" (1912; an earlier version of the poem)

  • On "Design" (criticism on the poem)

  • James Murphy, "'A Thing So Small': The Nature of Meter in Robert Frost's 'Design'" (2007)

  • Edward J. Ingebretsen, "'Design of Darkness to Appall': Religious Terror in the Poetry of Robert Frost" (1993)

  • Etymology of rigid, blight, appall

  • Heal-all

    • White Heal-all (Albino-flowered Heal-all)

    • Prunella vulgarisL.

    • Prunella vulgaris (selfheal)

    • Self Heal

    • Prunella vulgaris (photos)

  • Snowdrops

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 6–18

Nov.4

Reading

• Pat Mora, "Immigrants"

  • Pat Mora, "Bienvenidos" (pp. 7–8) and "Universities: A Mirage?" (pp. 160–62) in Nepantla (1993)

  • Pat Mora (official web page)

• Mitsuye Yamada, "To the Lady," Camp Notes and Other Writings (1976)

  • Mitsuye Yamada

  • Helen Jaskoski, "A MELUS Interview: Mitsuye Yamada" (1988)

  • Chikako D. Kumamoto, "Japanese North Americans, War, and Communal Healing through Literature: Internment Memory as an Ascent in Meaning and Beauty" (2006)

• Sharon Olds, "On the Subway" (1987)

  • Podcast: Sharon Olds 2003 (Olds reads "On the Subway" and other poems)

  • Sharon Olds (biography)

  • Sharon Olds

• Don Mattera, "Afrika Road" (1991)

  • Don Mattera

  • South African History Online

    • Sophiatown

    • Goba

  • Toi Toi

    • Township of Jo Slovo Toi Toi for their homes! (pt 1; video clip, 6:00 min.)

    • Urban Dictionary: toi toi

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 18–21

Week 3

Nov. 8

Reading

• Alice Walker, "Everyday Use" (1989)

  • Henry Louis Gates, Jr., excerpt from The Signifying Monkey (1988)

  • Henry Louis Gates, Jr., "Color Me Zora: Alice Walker's (Re) Writing of the Speakerly Text"

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 21–24

Nov. 11

Reading

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 24–40 (study guide)

  • Susan Van Zanten Gallagher, "Torture and the Novel: J. M. Coetzee's Waiting for the Barbarians" (1988)

  • David Attwell, J. M. Coetzee: South Africa and the Politics of Writing (1993)

• Bennet, "The Colony"

Week 4

Nov. 15

Reading

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 40–61 (end of Chapter 2; study guide)

  • J. M. Coetzee, "Into the Dark Chamber: The Writer and the South African State" (1986)

Nov. 18

Reading

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 62–83 (study guide)

  • Carrol Clarkson on Waiting for the Barbarians and Disgrace by J M Coetzee (link to mp3 of lecture)

Week 5

Nov. 22

Reading

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 84–120 (study guide)

  • J. M. Coetzee, "The Novel in Africa" (1998)

  • South African Views on Apartheid (video clip; 2:10 min.)

  • South African History Online

Nov.25

Reading

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 120–33 (study guide)

  • C. P. Cavafy, "Waiting for the Barbarians" (1904)

    • C. P. Cavafy, "Waiting for the Barbarians," trans. Richmond Lattimore (1955; includes analysis of the poem and discussion questions)

    • Maria Boletsi, "The Travels of a Literary Topos: C. P. Cavafy's 'Waiting for the Barbarians' and its Visual Restagings"

Week 6

Nov. 29

Reading

• J. M. Coetzee, Waiting for the Barbarians (1980) pp. 134–end (study guide)

  • Franz Kafka, "In the Penal Colony" (1914)

Reading Response #1 due (Examine "vision" in a passage that you have chosen in conjunction with the barbarian-Magistrate torture scene that we discussed in class [pp. 112–18]. Notice words used that have to do with sight, looking, seeing, eyes, the gaze, and, by extension, sleeping and waking up. What does one see? What is one allowed to see? What does one allow oneself to see? Is there any change or development of sight between the scene you have chosen and the one we read together?)

Dec. 2

Reading

• Lynn Nottage, Ruined (2008) beginning–end of Act 1 Scene 2 (study guide)

  • Kate Whoriskey, "Introduction," Ruined (2009)

  • The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo (trailer; video clip, 4:25 min.)

  • Congo soldiers explain why they rape (video clip, 3:59 min.)

  • Studio 360: Ruined, Critics, Winfield (radio story about the play, includes an interview with Nottage and link to audio clip of the song mentioned on p. 20, "You Come Here to Forget," performed by Condola Rashad, Dominic Kanza and Simon Shabantu Kashama, 3:19 min.)

Week 7

Dec. 6

< p:colorscheme colors=#FFFFFF,#000000,#808080,#000000,#00CC99,#3333CC,#CCCCFF,#B2B2B2 />No Class (Father's Day Observed)

Dec. 9

Reading

• Lynn Nottage, Ruined (2008) Act 1 Scene 3–Act 1 Scene 6 (end of Act 1; study guide) 

  • Alexis Greene, "Interview with Lynn Nottage" (2008)

  • Deji Olukotun, "Interview with Lynn Nottage" (2010)

  • Stephanie Nolen, "Not Women Anymore…" (2005)

  • Interview with Nottage and scenes from Ruined(video clip)

  • Stories Of Rape, Abuse Uncovered In 'Ruined' (interview with playwright and actress; audio clip, 12:00 min.)

Week 8

Dec. 13

Reading

• Lynn Nottage, Ruined (2008) Act 2 Scene 1–end of Act 2 Scene 3 (study guide)

  • Actress Quincy Tyler Bernstine delivers a monologue from Ruined (video clip, 9:39 min.; the text of the monologue corresponds to pages 68–70 in our book)

Dec. 16

Reading

• Lynn Nottage, Ruined (2008) Act 2 Scene 4–end (study guide)

  • Atossa Abrahamian, "The Case for Survival" (2009)

Reading Response #2 due (Respond to one of the study questions for the novel and play, or develop your own topic about any of the works on the syllabus)

Week 9

Dec. 20

No Class (midterm Week: December 20–24, 2009)

I will be available in our usual classroom, however, if anyone wants to come by with questions or to talk about the reading.

Dec.23

No Class (midterm Week: December 20–24, 2009)

Midterm (8–10 a.m. in class) There are two parts: 1) an essay-type question on Nadine Gordimer's short story "The Bridegroom" (at the BRK Co-op Photocopy Center), and 2) four essay-type questions from which you will choose two. Each topic asks you to write about two works. You may not discuss the same work twice. Both Waiting for the Barbarians and Ruined are required texts for this part. As always, it is helpful to take a few minutes to plot an outline before writing your essays. Formulate an thesis that shows you have read the works closely and can engage critically with the question. For each prompt, you do not need to answer every single question in the cluster. The sub-questions are there to help you think about the topic. Cite specific acts, scenes, or words in support of your argument. Give your essay a title if you like. 

• Reading Strategies

  • A General Study Guide

  • Reading Strategies and LIE

  • S.O.A.P.S. Document Analysis

  • PDIDLS

  • Tone and Detailed Explanation of DIDLS

• Essay Exam Tips

  • Writing Exam Essays

  • Pointers for Taking Essay Tests

  • Writing Essay Exams (pdf file)

  • Essay Exam Preparation (pdf file)

• Review literary terms

• Sample Midterm Questions and Responses

  • Sample Midterm & Answers (the gothic experience)

  • Example of Strong Responses (Romantic literature)

  • Sample Midterm Questions (pdf file)

  • Sample Midterm Essay Response

• What Is Plagiarism?

Week 10

Dec. 27

Reading

• Brian Friel, Molly Sweeney (1995) Act 1 (study guide)

  • Helen Keller, "Three Days to See," Atlantic Monthly (1933)

Dec. 30

Reading

• Brian Friel, Molly Sweeney (1995) Act 2 (study guide)

  • A Festival of Friel: Molly Sweeney in Rehearsals (interview with director Selina Cartmell; video clip, 2:02 min.)

  • Interview with Cara Kelly (who plays Molly in the National Theatre of Scotland production; video clip)

  • Oliver Sacks, "To See and Not See," An Anthropologist on Mars (1995)

  • Dialogue in the Dark (visit the exhibition in Chamchuree Square)

Week 11

Jan. 3

No class (New Year's Day observed)

Jan. 6

Reading

• Flannery O'Connor, "Good Country People" (1955; study guide)

  • Robert Giroux, "Introduction," Flannery O'Connor: The Complete Stories (1971)

  • Flannery O'Connor, "Some Aspects of the Grotesque in Southern Fiction" (1960)

  • Flannery O'Connor, "Fiction Is a Subject with a History--It Should Be Taught That Way" (1963)

Week 12

Jan. 10

No class (Intervarsity Games: January 10–23, 2010)

Jan. 13

No class (Intervarsity Games: January 10–23, 2010)

Week 13

Jan. 17

No class (Intervarsity Games: January 10–23, 2010)

Jan.20

No class (Intervarsity Games: January 10–23, 2010)

Week 14

Jan. 24

Reading

• David Sedaris, "Me Talk Pretty One Day" (1999; study guide)

  • Linda Richards, "January Interview: David Sedaris" (2000)

• David Ives, The Philadelphia (1992; study guide)

  • The Philadelphia (Pigeon Players Theatre Company; video clip, 12:25 min.)

  • The Philadelphia (video clip, 9:54 min.)

  • Ben Brantley, "All in the Timing; Merrily Sputtering Along" (1993)

  • William Grimes, "David Ives's Quick-Hit Approach To Staging the Human Comedy" (1994)

  • "David Ives Offers 'Lab' for Playwrights, Just Off Broadway" (1995)

Reading Response #3 due

Jan.27

Reading

• Elizabeth Bishop, "One Art" (1979)

  • Seamus Heaney, "The Redress of Poetry" excerpt

  • On "One Art" (criticism on the poem)

  • Robert Shapiro, "On a Villanelle by Elizabeth Bishop" (1979)

• Carol Ann Duffy, "Valentine," Mean Time (1993; study guide)

  • Carol Ann Duffy

  • Carol Ann Duffy (with audio clip of Duffy reading several poems)

  • Valentine (background, summary, themes, tones, imagery, sound effects)

  • Valentine

Week 15

Jan. 31

Reading

• Jennifer Vanderbes, Strangers at the Feast (2010) beginning–p. 69 (study guide)

  • Jennifer Vanderbes (official website)

Final paper topic critique; peer critique writing workshop

Feb. 3

Reading

• Jennifer Vanderbes, Strangers at the Feast (2010) pp. 70–109 (study guide)

  • Emily Testa interview of Vanderbes (2010)

Week 16

Feb. 7

Reading

• Jennifer Vanderbes, Strangers at the Feast (2010) pp. 110–81 (study guide)

  • Colgate University Writer's Conference: Craft Talk: Jennifer Vanderbes (2009; video clip, 45:57 min.)

Feb. 10

Reading

• Jennifer Vanderbes, Strangers at the Feast (2010) pp. 182–223 (study guide)

Reading Response #4 due

Week 17

Feb. 14

Reading

• Jennifer Vanderbes, Strangers at the Feast (2010) pp. 224–96 (study guide)

Feb. 17

Reading

• Jennifer Vanderbes, Strangers at the Feast (2010) pp. 297–end (study guide)

Week 18

Feb. 21

Forum

• If you are planning to use PowerPoint, make sure it is compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 version. Also embed or include files of any nonstandard fonts that are in your presentation.

• Let me know of any other audiovisual needs by 4 p.m. Friday, February 18, 2011.

• 5-minute individual presentation (15 minutes per panel) followed by

• 10-minute question and answer session

• Tentative Schedule

  Monday, February 21, 2010

1. Tainted Lives

11:00–11:25 a.m.

Presiding: Suthinee Thaeppunkulngam

Speakers: 

1.  "Intrusion and Unexpected Consequences in Strangers at the Feast," Suttinee Tuntisangaroon

2.  "The Magistrate and Problems of Cleansing," Wannaporn Samutassadong

3.  "Character Classification in 'Good Country People,'" Ployjai Pintobtang

Respondent 1:  Suriyaporn Eamvijit

Respondent 2:  Phennapa Sompansatid

Respondent 3:  Kanokkarn Tangmeelap

2. Ironic Roles

11:30–11:55 a.m.

Presiding: Kochawan Chayawan

Speakers: 

1.  "The Role of Education in Strangers at the Feast and 'Good Country People,'" Pakakul Srikacha

2.  "Nadi, the Woman Who Wants to Be Called Mama," Sawaros Thanapornsangsuth

3.  "Seriously Comic: The Abstract in David Ives's The Philadelphia," Panithi Lertdumrikarn

Respondent 1:  Saranya Siripanyakun

Respondent 2:  Anya Soontorngopan

Respondent 3:  Yanisa Chanchai

Feb. 24

Forum and Theme Potluck

Theme breakfast hosted by 2202235 section 3. Currently on the menu: spaghetti pork sauce, apple pie, milk, orange juice, cookies.

3. The Trouble with Normal

8:00–8:25 a.m.

Presiding: Saranya Siripanyakun

Speakers: 

1.  "To Normalize Is to Marginalize in Molly Sweeney," Kanokkarn Tangmeelap

2.  "Dehumanization of the Empire in Waiting for the Barbarians," Yanisa Chanchai

3.  "The Impact of Walker's Narrative in 'Everyday Use,'" Suthinee Thaeppunkulngam

Respondent 1:  Thananya Gludpare

Respondent 2:  Pakakul Srikacha

Respondent 3:  Ployjai Pintobtang

4. Freedom Is a Many-Colored Thing

8:30–8:55 a.m.

Presiding: Yanisa Chanchai

Speakers: 

1.  "Freedom and Limitation in Molly Sweeney and 'Me Talk Pretty One Day,'" Marisa Tangsatjanuraks

2.  "Assumptions Partially Leads to Blindness," Anya Soontorngopan

3.  "The Long and Black, and Winding Road," Kochawan Chayawan

Respondent 1: Wannaporn Samutassadong

Respondent 2: Suttinee Tantisangaroon

Respondent 3: Suthinee Thaeppunkulngam

5. Loss

9:00–9:25 a.m.

Presiding: Anya Soontorngopan

Speakers: 

1.  "The 'Emasculation' of Gavin," Phennapa Sompansatid

2.  "The Olsons: The Strangers to Denise," Thananya Gludpare

3.  "The Fall of the American Dream in Strangers at the Feast," Suriyaporn Eamvijit

4.  "The Art of Losing (At Least for Bishop) Is Impossible to Master," Saranya Siripanyakun

Respondent 1: Panithi Lertdumrikarn

Respondent 2: Sawaros Thanapornsangsuth

Respondent 3: Marisa Tangsatjanuraks

Respondent 4: Kochawan Chayawan

Final paper due

• 4–6 pp.

• MLA format

  • MLA Style

  • Citation Styles Handbook: MLA

  • MLA Citation Examples

  • MLA Style Guide

• Some writing guidelines:

  • "Some Matters of Form" by Yale University (writing guidelines; pdf file)

  • Writing Prose (handbook on college writing, Yale University; pdf file)

  • Sources and Citation at Dartmouth College (pdf file)

  • Writing about Literature

  • Writing Papers for English and Literature: A Word of Advice (also A Few Things to Remember)

  • The Craft of a Literature Paper

  • Writing a Literature Paper: Guidelines, Suggestions, Strategies

  • What Makes a Good Literature Paper?

  • Guide to Essay Writing (helpful reference, where to start, evidence, argument, what is a good essay)

  • Writing about Literature (elements of the essay, the writing process, the research essay, documentation)

  • Developing an Outline (pdf file)

  • How to Write an Outline

  • Writing

• What Is Plagiarism?

Week 19

Mar.  3

Final Exam (13:00–16:00 p.m.; BRK 303, 304) Dictionaries (electronic or paper) are not allowed in the exam room.

• Preparation

  • Writing Exam Essays

  • Pointers for Taking Essay Tests

  • Writing Essay Exams (pdf file)

  • Essay Exam Preparation (pdf file)

• Sample Responses

  • Sample Poetry Question on Kvlividze's poem "In the Metro" (with sample responses)

  • Example of an 'A' Response to an Exam on Wordsworth's "The world is too much with us"

  • Sample Exam Answer

• What Is Plagiarism?

• Reading Strategies

  • TP-CASTT (brief), Poetry Analysis: TP-CASTT (more detailed)

  • Tone and Detailed Explanation of DIDLS

  • S.O.A.P.S. Document Analysis

  • Reading Strategies and LIE

  • PDIDLS

• Review literary terms