Course Syllabus

Literary Analysis
Fall 2010, LIT 2341.001

Course Information

Literary Analysis
LIT 2341.001
Fall 2010

Class meeting: M W F, 12:30-1:20 PM

Class location: MSET 2.304

Professor Contact Information

Caroline Austin Bolt

cma052000@utdallas.edu
Office: JO 5.510
Phone: (972) 883-7000 x2713
Office hours: Wednesday 11:30-12:30 and by appointment

Course Description

LIT 2341 is an introductory course for “literary studies” majors. As well as discussing practical strategies
for succeeding as a student of literature, we will address the following overarching questions: How do we
as contemporary readers experience literature, and do our expectations help or hinder us in our
understanding of texts from other time periods? How does a text represent human action? How important
is authorial intention? And how can a literary work reflect a cultural/historical perspective? This course
will focus on literary language, including the vocabulary of generic conventions and the vocabulary of
formal elements used in close readings. We will analyze poetry, two novels, and one play, as well as
supplementary articles assigned in class.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

1. Students will acquire the vocabulary of formal elements necessary for analyzing literature.
2. Students will learn how to apply the vocabulary of formal elements to articulate valid critical
responses to literature.
3. Students will develop analytical skills that will facilitate critical reading from cultural/historical
perspectives.
4. Students will develop and refine their ability to produce written critical work.

LIT 2331.001Spring 2010

1
Required Textbooks and Materials

The Norton Introduction to Literature, Shorter Tenth Edition, 2010.

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein (Penguin, 2003)

Suggested Course Materials

MLA Handbook: Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
(make sure it‟s th most current version: 2009).

Style Guide: Williams, Joseph. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Literature as Experience

Fri, Aug 20: Introductions, Syllabus Review, How to succeed as a literary studies major

Mon, Aug.23: Discuss “Symbol & Figurative Language” (pp. 208-212)

Intro. to the vocabulary of “formal elements”

Wed, Aug.25: Discuss poetry (pp. 618-636 in Norton)

Fri, Aug. 27: * Discuss “Theme and Tone” (pp.651-662) / Close reading of poems

Literature as a Representation of Human Actions

Mon, Aug.30: Discuss essay on “Representation” & “The Writing Process” (pp. 1768-1780)

Wed, Sept. 1: Discuss literature as representation, con‟t. / Sample writing (pp.637-642) / Post topic for Paper #1

Fri, Sept. 3: * Last day to drop w/o a W. EXAM on literary terms and the idea of representation.

Mon, Sept. 6: Labor Day, NO CLASS

Making Arguments about Authorial Intention

Wed, Sept. 8: Discuss essay on “Authors,” as well as Barthes and Foucault‟s essays on “the author”

Fri, Sept. 10: * Discuss “Exploring Contexts,” (pp. 294-310)

Mon, Sept.13: Read sample openings of novels in class, plus “Hills Like White Elephants” (pp. 106-109) &
“The Birthmark” (pp.213-224)

Wed, Sept.15: Discuss Shelley‟s Frankenstein, (“Author‟s Introduction” & “Preface”)

Fri, Sept. 17: * Workshop rough drafts of Paper #1

Mon, Sept. 20: Turn in rough draft of Paper #1 / Discuss Frankenstein, Opening Letters & ch. 1-2

LIT 2331.001Spring 2010

2
Wed, Sept. 22: Discuss Frankenstein, ch.3-5

Fri, Sept. 24: * Discuss Frankenstein, ch. 6-8

Making Historical/Cultural Arguments

Mon, Sept. 27: Discuss “Cultural and Historical Contexts: Women in Turn-of-the-Century America” (pp347-354)

Wed, Sept. 29: Discuss “Writing about Literature” (pp.1755-1767)

Fri, Oct. 1: * Discuss “Critical Contexts: William Faulkner‟s „A Rose For Emily‟” (pp. 389-420)

Mon, Oct.4: PAPER #1 DUE (hard copy to instructor & submit to turnitin.com by 11:59 PM)

Wed, Oct. 6: Library demo

Fri, Oct. 8: * Discuss Frankenstein, Vol. II

Traditions of Western Literature

Mon, Oct. 11: Discuss “The Research Essay” (pp. 1781–1796)

Wed, Oct. 13: Discuss “Quotation, Citation, and Documentation” (pp. 1797-1808)

Fri, Oct. 15: * Discuss “Sample Research Paper” (pp. 1809-1817)

Mon, Oct. 18: Discuss “Critical Approaches” (pp. 1818-1844)

Wed, Oct. 20: Mini-lecture on timeline of Western Lit.

Fri, Oct. 22: * Discuss Frankenstein, Vol. III

Mon, Oct. 25: Discuss Frankenstein, Vol. III & “Plot” (pp. 50-57); “Narration & POV” (pp. 96-100);
“Character” (pp.119-125)

Generic Expectations

Wed, Oct. 27: View film: Frankenstein / Post Paper #2 Topic

Fri, Oct. 29: * View film: Frankenstein

Mon, Nov. 1: View Film: Mexico’s Day of the Dead (cultural/historical influence on fiction)

Wed, Nov. 3: Magical Realist short stories, including “The Garden of Forking Paths” (pp. 463)

Fri, Nov. 5: * Magical Realist stories, con‟t.

Mon, Nov. 8: Mini-lecture: Genre and Generic Expectations

Wed, Nov. 10: Genre and Generic Expectations, con‟t.

Fri., Nov. 12: * Mini-lecture: Narrative Fiction

Mon, Nov. 15: Lyric Poetry (+ in-class selections from Norton)

Wed, Nov. 17: Lyric Poetry (+ in-class selections from Norton)

LIT 2331.001Spring 2010

3
Fri, Nov. 19: * Mini-lecture: Drama / Discuss “Reading, Responding, Writing” (pp.1070-1082)

Mon, Nov. 22: Workshop Paper #2 drafts

Wed, Nov. 24: Discuss “Elements of Drama” (pp. 1125-1134)

Fri, Nov. 26: * Thanksgiving Holiday, NO CLASS

Mon, Nov. 29: Discuss Chekhov‟s The Cherry Orchard (pp. 1547-1583)

Wed, Dec. 1: Discuss Chekhov‟s The Cherry Orchard, con‟t.

Fri, Dec. 3: * Review for Final exam

Mon, Dec. 6: Last class/ wrap up/ PAPER #2 DUE (hard copy to instructor + turnitin.com by 11:59 PM)

Fri, Dec. 10: FINAL EXAM

* = Reader Response Posts: post a paragraph of approximately 250 words on e-learning on each Friday
as a reflection on the readings/discussions of the week.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Grading Policy

Grade Distribution:
1. Attendance, Participation, Reader Response Posts 30%
2. Term Papers 40%
3. Exams 30%

A+ 98-100 A 93-97 A- 90-92

B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82
C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72
D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62
F 0-59

LIT 2331.001Spring 2010

4
Course & Instructor Policies

Make-up Exams: Make-up exams will only be given in the case of a documented medical
emergency or university-sponsored activity.

Extra Credit: Extra credit is not available.

Late Work: All drafts, including final, must be submitted when and as required in order to
successfully complete this course. Late assignments will suffer grade deductions or may not be
accepted. Failure to submit essays to turnitin.com by 11:59 PM on the due date will result in a
point deduction. Essays will not be graded until they are turned in to turnitin.com.

Class Attendance and Participation: Attendance and participation are mandatory. If you sleep,
engage in non-class-related activities, or interfere with your classmates' ability to learn you will
be counted absent for that day. Be on time - class starts promptly. Leaving early will count as an
absence.

Tardiness: Persistent tardiness to class is disrespectful to both your instructor and your peers.
Continually arriving late to class will affect your participation grade in the course. Three tardies
will result in one unexcused absence for the course; I will consider you absent if you arrive more
than 20 minutes late to class.

Personal Communication Devices: Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other personal
communication devices before the start of class. Do not use them during class. Laptop use is not
permitted during class.

In an effort to “go green,” University Policies can be found at:

http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies

All students are responsible for adhering to these policies.

Course Syllabus Page 5