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Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Read, analyze, and interpret several genres including novels, short fiction, poetry and drama that represent the history, diversity, and evolution of the contemporary literary and cultural world.
2. Identify and apply several methods for reading and interpreting world literatures.
3. Distinguish the literary and cultural inheritance drawn from the works studied.
4. Recognize and critique the elements that allow for interpretation and evaluation of world literature.
5. Interpret the connection between a literary work and the particular time and place from which it arose.
6. Analyze and apply secondary and critical material in the study of literary texts.
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I. Precursors to Contemporary World Literature
A. The oral tradition
B. Narrative and epic poetry
C. Short fiction
II. The Broader Cannon
A. Historical/cultural contexts
B. Language and global identities
III. Fiction in Translation
A. Fiction in world culture
B. Fiction as a means for social/political change
C. Reading translated literature
IV. Contemporary Genres and Literary Movements
A. Magical realism
B. Romanticism
C. Surrealism
D. Modernism/post modernism
V. The Modern Novel
A. The Novel in the age of film
B. The Novel in the age of technology
VI. The Elements of Fiction
A. Plot versus story
B. Characters
C. Point of view
D. Style
E. Diction
F. Symbolism
G. Theme
VII. Schools of Criticism
A. Reader-response criticism
B. Marxist criticism
C. Feminist criticism
D. New historicist criticism
E. Psychoanalytical criticism
VIII. Literary Research
A. Secondary sources
B. MLA documentation
C. Research techniques
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Assignments may include:
1. Detailed summaries.
2. Reading response journal.
3. One to two (1 to 2) longer critical response papers (1500-2500 words).
4. One (1) paper including extensive library research with complete and correct MLA documentation (1500 to 2000 words).
5. Two to four (2 to 4) short library research assignments.
6. One to two (1 to 2) personal response papers in reaction to readings, videos, lectures, novels, and literary criticism.
7. One (1) group or individual presentations about particular works, authors, schools of criticism, time periods, or literary styles.
8. Readings of varying lengths, including novels, poetry, short fiction, plays and literary criticism (50 to 100 pages per week).
9. Viewing videos outside the classroom setting.
10. Essay examination.
11. Objective examination and quizzes.
12. Participation in class discussions.
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The Bedford Anthology of World Literature Book 6: The Twentieth Century, 1900-The Present: Bedford/St. Martin's 2003
The Norton Anthology of World Literature Vol. 2. Second Shorter Edition, New York 2009
Samantha Schnee, Alane Salierno Mason and Dedi Felman eds. Words Without Borders: The World through The Eyes of Writers: Anchor Books, 2007
Literature from the "Axis of Evil:" Writing from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and other Enemy Nations: Words Without Borders, 2006
Representative novels
Gao Xiingjian, Soul Mountain, translator, Mabel Lee: Harper Collins, NY 2000
Mo Yan, Red Sorghum, translator Howard Goldblatt: Penguin Books, 1993 (Classic)
Wang Anyi, The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, translators Micheal Berry and Susan Chan Egan: Columbia Press, NY, 2008
Driss, Charaibi, Mother Comes of Age, translator Hugh Harter: Three Continents Press, DC, 1984 (Classic)
Petterson, Per, Out Stealing Horses, translator, Anne Born: Picador, NY, 2008
Skarmeta, Antonio, The Postman, translator, Katherine Silver: Hyperion, NY, 1987 (Classic)
Marquez, Gabriel Garcia, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, translator, Gregory Rabassa: Vintage Books, NY 1982 (Classic)
Duong Thu Huong, Paradise of the Blind, translator, Nina McPherson: Harper Perennial 2002
Okri, Ben, Songs of Enchantment: Doubleday, NY 1993 (Classic)
Coetzee, JM, Waiting for the Barbarians, Secker & Warburg, South Africa, 1980 (Classic)
Munif, Abdelrahman, Cities of Salt, Vintage International, 1989
Mahfouz, Naquib, The Thief and The Dogs, Anchor Books, 1989
Instructor prepared materials