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 The purpose of this course is to offer you an understanding of and an appreciation for literature.  For the current semester, we will study the three general areas of literature-drama, fiction, and poetry--through readings, class discussions, and lectures.  What you get out of the class is obviously up to you.  An appreciation for literature is essential for a liberal arts education since it gives you a cultural, historical, and philosophic understanding of creativity; it also affords an understanding of the social impetuses that inform our civilization.

 The course requirements include one short paper (3 to 5 pages) and two tests.  You will be expected to have read the material prior to class, to take part in class discussions, and to take notes on class lectures.  The tests that I give rely on both the assigned reading and lecture material.  Should you miss class, you are responsible for all assignments or material covered on that day.

 The paper must be typed, double-spaced, and represent your analysis rather than a rehash of class lectures or secondary sources.  You will be given a list of possible subjects to choose from, but you're not limited to my suggestions (you must, however, write on a work covered in class).  Please do not ask me to assign or to recommend a writing topic for you.  The sole purpose for the writing assignment is to provide you with the analytical skills necessary for college work.

 The texts for this class are The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, Volume 2, 7th edition, and the photocopy pack, marked "Narey: Intro. 2013"; both are available at the bookstore.  My office is LIB 103, in the Honors Program, 972-2308; email me at wnarey@astate.edu.  Office hours will vary with each semester; but I am most usually in the office from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. each day, with the exception of the classes I teach.  Check “Current Classes” on this website for more information.  

Attendance for this class is mandatory; you cannot miss more than two weeks of classes, whether you’re on a MWF schedule (6 classes), or T/Th. (4 classes), and pass the course. The university's attendance policy for freshman and sophomore courses on page 41 of the Undergraduate Bulletin (2002-2004) is my policy as well. Remember: NO ABSENCE IS EXCUSED; there are a minimum number of classes that you must attend in order to "take the course."  All professors at ASU allow reasonable exceptions for university-sponsored events that may cause you to miss a class; you will still be held accountable for the work, and you should provide information about the events as early in the semester as possible.

Works for this class, which vary with the semester, may draw from some of the following:

 

                    Drama:  Racine's Phaedra

                                    Ibsen's Hedda Gabler

                                    Brecht's Endgame

                                    Brecht's Mother Courage

                                    O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms

 

Fiction:  Hawthorne's short stories

                Kafka's "The Metamorphosis"

                                    Porter's "Flowering Judas"

                                    Lawrence's "Odor of Chrysanthemums"

                                    Faulkner's "Spotted Horses"

                                    Camus' "The Guest"                                    

                                    Marquez's "Death Constant Beyond Love"

 

                    Poetry:  World War I Poets

                                    Masters

                                    Eliot                                   

                                   Graves

 

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This page maintained by Wayne Narey; suggestions and comments appreciated--please contact wnarey@astate.edu