Humanities 1301-002, JO 4.

102
(10 am, MWF)
Spring 2006
Dr. Virginia L. Arbery
JO 5.704. Phone: 972-883-2152
Office hrs.: 12-1 pm, MW.
virginia.arbery@utdallas.edu

Images of Exodus from Moses to King

This course undertakes the study of Exodus viewing it as the comprehensive myth that informs
the action of the West, one represented in literature and philosophy and employed in rhetoric. The
paradigm for the selected readings is both an external and internal action, an insight into both
spiritual and political transformation: Moses leading the Israelites out of the slavery of Egypt
through the wilderness and almost into the Promised Land. The work of both Lincoln and Martin
Luther King clearly outlines the political theme of emancipation from slavery. Referring, of
course to Moses, King declares in “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” that he has seen the land of
political and social equality defined in the Declaration and promised by Lincoln. But the theme
of growth from the slavery of one’s own ignorance to a liberating self-knowledge is another
aspect to the centrality of the Exodus myth. The works in the middle of the course range from
trying to return home from the Trojan War in The Odyssey to trying to escape from home in
Huckleberry Finn. Both Vergil’s Aeneid and Dante’s Inferno offer compelling versions of exile
and homecoming or new beginnings. The hope is that the selected works, the lectures, and the
class discussions will lead to a life-long conversation with the questions raised in the works of
exile. Among the many enduring questions, perhaps this one is the crux: what does an education
in suffering have to do with personal and political liberty?

Active attendance is essential for successful completion of the course. Taking class notes is the
only permissible use of laptops in class. Students observed doing otherwise will be asked to leave
the class and counted as absent for the day. Arrival on time and no exiting until the Professor has
dismissed class are simple rules of courtesy. Attendance will be taken daily, and three unexcused
absences will result in failure for the course. Generally, only medical excuses will be permitted.
All work must be submitted on the date due. Read the University Catalogue for the University
policy on drop dates. Academic honesty must be honored; therefore, plagiarism of any degree
will not be tolerated. Appropriate punitive action will be taken.

Personal communication between students and their Professor is essential. Email contact is no
substitute for speaking to the Professor or the Teaching Assistant. It is useful as a means of
recording matters related to class procedures; however, nothing really can take the place of
conversation face to face. If you have a concern that you wish to discuss, an idea to explore,
please arrange an appointment with your Professor or TA.

Grading will be divided in the following manner: 50% on Midterm and Final Exam; 25% on 2
short essays; 25% on short objective pop quizzes or in-class essays to be announced. Class
participation will influence borderline grades.

Texts and Readings: Texts are available at the UTD Bookstore. Other assignments are accessible
on line (or to be distributed in class) are noted by an asterisk. Use only the translations or editions
specified in the syllabus. YOU MUST BRING APPROPRIATE TEXTS AND READINGS TO
CLASS EVERY CLASS MEETING.
Assignments

M Jan. 9 Course Introduction (Cotton Mather’s Magnalia

Christi Americana)
W Jan.11 Exodus 1-20 Use BibleGateway.com; English
Standard Version)
F Jan.13 Exodus 21-25; 31-34; 40.

W Jan. 18 Leviticus 4-5; 8;11-12. Numbers 13-14;

Deuteronomy 31-34.
F Jan. 20 Discussion.

M Jan. 23 Odyssey,(Richmond Lattimore, Trans.)

Books I-IV
W Jan. 25 Odyssey, Books V -VIII
F Jan. 27 Odyssey, Books IX-XII
M Jan. 30 Odyssey, Books XIII-XVI

W Feb. 1 Odyssey, Books XVII-XX

F Feb. 3 Odyssey, Books XXI-XXIV

M Feb. 6 Short essay due

Tennyson’s Ulysses*; Discussion

W Feb.8 Plato, Republic,* Book 6

F Feb. 10 Plato, Republic,* Book 7

M Feb. 13 Virgil, Aeneid (Robert Fitzgerald, Trans.), Books I-II

W Feb. 15 Aeneid, III-IV
F Feb. 17 Aeneid, V-VI

M Feb. 20 Aeneid, VII-VIII

W Feb 22 Aeneid, IX-X; Allen Tate,“Aeneas at Washington”*
F Feb 24 Aeneid, XI-XII

M Feb. 27 Midterm
W Mar.1 Dante’s Inferno (A. Mandelbaum, Trans.), I-VI
F Mar. 3 Inferno, VII-XI
SPRING BREAK
M Mar.12 Inferno, XII-XVII
W Mar. 14 Inferno, XVIII-XXV
F Mar. 16 Inferno, XXVI-XXXIV

M Mar. 19 Discussion
2nd Short Essay due
W Mar. 21 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight I-II. (Marie Borroff,
Trans.)
F Mar. 23 Sir Gawain, III-IV.

M Mar.26 Shakespeare’s Tempest (Signet) Acts 1 and 2

W Mar. 28 Tempest Acts 3 and 4
F Mar.30 Tempest Act 5 / Discussion

M Apr. 3 Mayflower Compact; Declaration of Independence*

W Apr. 5 Mark Twain’s, Huckleberry Finn, Chapters 1-8.
F Apr. 7 Huck Finn (Norton Edition), 9-13

M Apr. 10 Huck Finn, 14-18

W Apr. 12 Huck Finn, 19-23
F Apr. 14 Huck Finn, 24-29

M Apr. 17 Huck Finn, 30-34

W Apr. 19 Huck Finn, 35-Chapter the Last
F Apr. 21 Abraham Lincoln’s “Temperance Address”*

M Apr 24 Martin Luther King’s “I’ve Been to the

Mountaintop”*

Miss Megan Kuckelman

Teaching Assistant,10:00-10:50 am, HUM 1301-003
Ph: 972-883-2062
Office: JO 5. 410A
meghan.kuckelman@student.utdallas.edu