Comparative Literature 30A

Major Works of European Literature: Classical and Medieval

Honors Section: 6320 Phelps Hall, 9AM, Wednesdays

Lecture time and location: TR 11:00-12:15, Chemistry 1179

Please note the correction to the final date and time below.

Instructor: James Donelan

Course Web Site:

Enroll by section enrollment codes:
55681 Tuesday, 7-7:50PM, Givetz 2116
55699 Tuesday, 6-6:50PM, Girvetz 2127
55707 Friday, 12-12:50, HSSB 1228
55715 Wednesday, 9-9:50, Arts 1426
55723 Wednesday, 8-8:50, HSSB 1214
55731 Friday, 1-1:50, HSSB 1224
55749 Tuesday, 8-8:50, HSSB 3202
55756 Wednesday, 10-10:50, Arts 1426
55764 Wednesday, 3-3:50, Girvetz 2129
55772 Wednesday, 5-5:50, Girvetz 2128

Office: 1523 South Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday, 12:30-1:15; Wednesday, 1-2
Book: Lawall, Mack, et al., eds. The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces
Reader: Available in Graphikart

Course Requirements:

Students must attend all lectures and discussion sections. The amount of reading expected for each class meeting varies; students are urged to plan their reading schedules carefully. Students will write two five-page essays, a midterm, and a final, along with a brief prospectus for each essay.

Grades will be determined as follows:

• first essay, 20%
• midterm, 20%
• second essay, 25%
• final, 30%
• participation 5%

The essays will be critical interpretations of a work or works examined in the course, with scholarly secondary sources and proper MLA citation style. The midterm will be a synthesis of ideas from the works studied in the first half of the course. The final will be a comprehensive examination of all works in the course (with emphasis on the second half). Paper topic suggestions, course policies, lecture outlines, and other materials will be posted on the course web site.  In addition, keep in mind the following:

• Section attendance is mandatory. If you fail to attend section, you may be dropped from the course.
• Enrollment is through section. Crashers should keep trying to enroll through GOLD before asking for an add code.
• Regulations regarding academic honesty will be strictly enforced.
• We are happy to assist students with disabilities in any way we can.
• Success in the course depends on attendance, reading, and writing at the required times. Please do not let the assignments get ahead of you.

Syllabus

1/4 Introduction: Literature in the Ancient World Notes

1/6 Gilgamesh, 16 Notes

1/11 Enheduanna, The Hymn to Inanna, (Reader) Notes Suggested Topics for the First Essay

1/13 Genesis 6-9, 55 and Job, 72. Notes

1/18 Homer, Iliad I, VI, VIII, IX, 98, Notes First essay prospectus due.

1/20 Iliad, XVI, XVIII, XXII, XXIV, 150 Notes

1/25 Homer, Odyssey I-XII, 209. Notes

1/27 Homer, Odyssey XIII-XXIV, 360; Sappho, Lyrics, 514First paper due. Notes

2/1 Sophocles, Oedipus the King, 596 Notes

2/3 Midterm Second Essay Topics

2/8 Plautus, Pseudolus, 750

2/10 Virgil, Aeneid I, II, IV, 814 Notes Second essay prospectus due.

2/15 Aeneid, VI, VIII, XII, 868 Notes

2/17 The New Testament (excerpts), 960 Notes

2/22 Augustine, Confessions, 1004. Notes Second paper due in section this week.

2/24 Beowulf, 1057 Notes

3/1 Beowulf, continued.

3/3 Dante, Inferno, I-XV, 1303

3/8 Inferno, XVI-XXXIII, 1348

3/10 Conclusions

Final Examination: Wednesday, March 16, 12:00-3:00