Lit 4: Antiquity to Middle Ages

Dr. Les Wright                         Office: 617 . 928 . 4592                          Fall 2004

Office: ATC 240                       lwright@mountida.edu

HT 401 A                   Senior Humanities 1: Singers and Seers        3 credits

Course Description

A study of the literary imagination, this course examines ways in which the mind represents reality to itself. Although emphasis is on the artistry of narrative, play, and poem, attention will also be given tot he psychological and sociological functions of literature. Not a survey in the strict sense, the course focuses on seminal texts from ancient, medieval, and renaissance Europe. Traditional texts from non-western cultures are also read. Students thus encounter a variety of definitions of what it means to be human and so learn ways of understanding life. Restricted to BLS seniors.

Prerequisite: C- or better in HT 310

Required Texts:

Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, Volume 1

Teaching Procedures

Each  class may include background lectures, discussion of assigned readings, films, and case studies. The student is expected to come prepared to class, to have successfully written research papers in previous courses taken, and to be able to express her- or himself in class and in writing in a cogent, intellectually informed, and professionally appropriate manner.

Instructional Objectives

As spelled out in the course description, to give the student a foundation in key cultural texts, ideas, values, and sources from the ancient, medieval, and renaissance European literary canon, to trace the development of “light” and “dark” as well as “sacred” and “profane” literary, aesthetic and moral boundaries, to become conversant in the Great Conversation. This course meets the requirements of the College’s General Education goals, and the student is referred to College Catalog for further information. Tests require a grasp of course content, as they are learning experiences requiring the student to synthesize information in their own words.

Assignments

The student is referred to the course syllabus for details. In general, the student is expected to complete reading and written assignments on time, to view video lectures in class, and to participate in  the week’s class discussions. Exams must be completed in a timely manner and should represent the student’s best effort in synthesizing and extrapolating from the material in an intelligent, engaged, and substantive manner.

Attendance and Grading

Attendance at all class meetings is mandatory. (See the instructor in case of medical or other emergency.)

Four open-book exams (20% each) and attendance and class participation (20%).

Note: all information contained here is subject to change. See the instructor if you have any questions.

Dr. Les Wright                         Office: 617 . 928 . 4592                                              Fall 2004

Office: ATC 240                       lwright@mountida.edu

HT 401 A                   Senior Humanities 1: Singers and Seers        3 credits

SYLLABUS

WEEK	TOPIC
1	Old Testament:  selected texts:
2	Gilgamesh: selected texts:
3	HOMER, Odyssey
4	HOMER, Odyssey
5	TEST 1 / SOPHOCLES, Antigone
6	EURIPEDES, Medea
7	Plato, Aristotle, Sappho: selected texts:
8	CATULLUS:  selected texts:
9	TEST 2 / PETRONIUS, VIRGIL, OVID: selected texts:
10	New Testament, Koran ,ST. AUGUSTINE:  selected texts:
11	Beowulf, Chaucer: selected texts:
12	DANTE, BOCCACCIO,  VILLON selected texts:
13	TEST 3 / Petrach, Erasmus, Machiavelli, Castiglione: selected texts:
14	Rabelais, Montaigne, Cervantes: selected texts:
15	Shakespeare, Donne, Milton: selected texts:
FINAL	FINAL TEST 4