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Literary Studies 2331 – 001

Masterpieces of World Literature


Spring 2006

Numair A. Choudhury
University of Texas at Dallas
School of Arts & Humanities

*DAYS/TIME :Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.


*LOCATION : CB 1.104

*Office: JO 4.314

*Office Hours: Thursdays 3:30pm-4:30pm

*Phone: 972-883-2018

*Email: nac032000@utdallas.edu
(do not send messages through Web CT)

The reality of the other person is not in what he reveals to you, but in what he cannot
reveal to you. Therefore, if you would understand him, listen not to what he says, but
rather to what he does not say.
- Khalil Gibran (Sand and Foam)

Course Description

This course will examine several literary masterpieces of the world with an interest in
identity formation and their role in the communication of narratives, specifically novels.
One can loosely classify the course trajectory as consisting of two parts- the first would
be the reading of texts where fiction overtly engages with the human psyche and its need
to carve out a particular niche; and second, the scrutiny of narratives where the personal
quest for social distinctiveness is replaced or cloaked by obsessive interests.

Defining identity may be as complex as developing one's identity; even Eric Erikson
(1968) was hesitant to offer a definitive explanation, stressing rather that the definition
need include the unity and integration of all aspects of selfhood, including the conscious
and unconscious. It may be that another way to define identity is through answering the
question, "Who am I?" While the course will not be primarily concerned with the
psychological underpinnings and nuances of specific manifestations of ego, it will be
directed towards examining their impact on the construction of texts.

Required Texts & Supplies

1) Heart of Darkness: An Authoritative Text, Backgrounds and Sources, Criticism


(Norton Critical Editions)
by Joseph Conrad, Robert Kimbrough (Editor)
ISBN: 0393955524

2) Goethe's Faust by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, Walter Kaufmann (Translator)


ISBN: 0385031149

3) Madame Bovary (Bantam Classics) by Gustave Flaubert


ISBN: 0553213415

4) Things Fall Apart: A Novel by Chinua Achebe


ISBN: 0385474547

5) The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende,


ISBN: 0553273914

6) Shalimar the Clown: A Novel by Salman Rushdie


ISBN: 0679463356

7) The Grass Is Singing : A Novel (Perennial Classics) by Doris Lessing


ISBN: 0060953462

The following is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

Attendance Policy

Because participation is vital to successful completion of Litrature 2331, you should


attend every class. If you must be absent, check with your classmates or with me for any
work you missed that can be made up. Much of the work is done collaboratively in class.
Alternative assignments are generally not given, nor can the instructor “re-teach” missed

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classes for individual students. If you miss more than three classes, your grade will be
negatively affected and/or you may be encouraged to drop the class. Two tardies will
count as one absence. Chronic tardiness is unacceptable, as are coming to class
unprepared, doing work that is not for this course during class, sleeping in class, or using
the computers or other personal electronic devices for personal messaging, research, or
entertainment. Please turn off cellular/mobile phones, pagers, and other personal
electronic devices during class.

Drop Policy

See here for details on deadlines and procedures for dropping:


http://www.utdallas.edu/student/class/current/newpolicywpwf.htm

Office Hours

Please note my regular office hours above. You also can arrange to see me at other times
that are mutually convenient. Office hours belong to you just as much as our class time.
Don’t hesitate to take advantage of my availability and the help I am ready to offer. If
you need to contact me outside of class time or office hours, it is best to communicate
with me by email (nac032000@udallas.edu) rather than the office phone.

Email Policy

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO UTD STUDENTS: As of August 1, 2004, all email


correspondence with students will be sent ONLY to the student's U.T. Dallas email
address. U.T. Dallas provides each student with a free email account that is to be used in
all communication with university personnel. This allows the university to maintain a
high degree of confidence in the identity of all individuals corresponding and the security
of the transmitted information. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas
provides a method for students to forward email from other accounts to their U.T. Dallas
address and have their U.T. Dallas mail sent on to other accounts. Students may go to the
following URL to establish or maintain their official U.T. Dallas computer account:
http://netid.utdallas.edu/

Grading Policy
The following grade criteria describe very general indicators that both you and your
instructor may take into consideration when assessing your work and progress in the
course. Your estimation of your mid-term and final grades should be more detailed and
specific and may include a ‘+’ or ‘–‘ if your work tilts above or below the central grade
for which you argue. But the final interpretation and assessment of your grade remains
the responsibility of your teacher.

A: Represents outstanding participation in all course activities (including attendance and


promptness); all assigned work completed on time, with very high quality in all work
produced for the course

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B: Represents excellent participation in all course activities (including attendance and
promptness); all assigned work completed on time, with consistently high quality in
course work.

C: Represents good (but average) participation in all course activities; all assigned work
completed, with generally good quality overall in course work

D: Represents uneven participation in course activities; some gaps in assigned work


completed, with inconsistent quality in course work.

F: Represents minimal participation in course activities; serious gaps in assigned work


completed, or very low quality in course work. Evidence of development is not available.

UTD Grading scale


(http://www.utdallas.edu/student/catalog/undergrad02/progress.html#Grading%20Scale)

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work as your own, whether you mean
to or not. For example, copying or paraphrasing passages from another writer’s work
without acknowledging that you’ve done so is plagiarism. Allowing another writer to
write any part of your essay is plagiarism. Copying or purchasing a paper from any
source is plagiarism.

Plagiarism is a serious offense. The possible consequences range from failing the
assignment to failing the course, or worse. Each incident of plagiarism at UTD must be
reported to the administration. If you are not sure how to properly cite a quoted or
paraphrased source, or if you need help with the format of a citation, check with the New
Century Handbook and/or with your teacher. Although you can (and, in fact, should) seek
help and advice from friends, classmates, tutors, and others, be sure that your written
work is your own.

See the Undergraduate Catalog for information about the consequences of Scholastic
Dishonesty, or view the policy here (which is also a link on the Rhetoric Program
website):

http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html.

Major Assignments

YOU MUST BRING A PRINTED COPY OF BOTH PAPERS BY CLASSTIME OF


THE DAY THE PAPER IS DUE.

First Essay due 2/21: Essay should be 4-5 double-spaced pages using MLA format for
Works Cited. 30% of grade.

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Second Essay Due 4/20: Essay should be 5-6 pages double-spaced pages using MLA
format for Works Cited. 40% of grade.

In addition every student must submit a one-page handout on the day of their book
presentation. This is an important part of class participation and attendance, which
accounts for 30% of grade.

Syllabus Itinerary (subject to change)

Week 1

Tue 1/10: Introduction to course and syllabus


Assignments: Find one poem that deals with identity in some form. E-mail me with three
choices of books that you would like to present on.

Thu 1/2: Introduction to course and syllabus. Class discussion of poems chosen by
students.
Assignments: Read handouts and start Heart of Darkness

Week 2

Tue 1/17: Discuss handouts and watch clips from Apocalypse Now.
Assignments: Finish reading Heart of Darkness.

Thu 1/19: In-class: Discuss Heart of Darkness.


Assignments: Ponder on study questions for Heart of Darkness and be prepared for a
quiz.
Start reading Goethe's Faust.

Week 3

Tue 1/24: No class. Finish reading Goethe's Faust.

Thu 1/26: In-class: Discussion of Goethe's Faust.

Assignments: Think about the study questions I have handed out for Faust. Be prepared
for a quiz.
Start reading Madame Bovary.

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Week 4

Tue 1/31: Finish class discussion on Goethe’s Faust. Watch clips from the movie Faust.

and Thu 2/2: No class.


Finish Whale Rider movie assignment and write a one page review.

Assignments: Finish reading Madame Bovary. Be prepared for a quiz.

Week 5

Tue 2/07 and Thu 2/9: Discussion of Madame Bovary. Student presentations.

Reminder: First Paper due 2/21 (4-5 pages).

Week 6

Tue 2/14: Class discussion of paper topics and explanation of requirements. Individual
meetings.

Thu 2/16: Class workshop on papers, individual meetings.

Assignments: Finish work on First Paper due Tue 2/21.

Week 7

Tue 2/21:In class: Papers due. We will watch an interview with Chinua Achebe.

Thu 2/23: no class.


Assignments: Finish reading Things Fall Apart. Be prepared for a quiz.

Week 8

Tue 2/28 and Thu 3/02: Class discussion on Things Fall Apart. Student presentations.

Assignments: Start reading The House of the Spirits.

Week 9

Tue 3/07 and Thu 3/09: Spring Break!! Go do your own thing…BUT finish reading The
House of the Spirits. Be prepared for a quiz!

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Week 10

Tue 3/14 and Thu 3/16: Class discussion on The House of the Spirits. Student
presentations.

Assignments: start reading Shalimar the Clown.

Week 11

Tue 3/21 : Watch interview with Salman Rushdie.


Assignments : Finish reading Shalimar the Clown.

3/23: Class discussion of Shalimar the Clown. Student presentations.

Assignments: Start reading The Grass is Singing.

Week 12

Tue 3/28 : Class discussion on Shalimar the Clown.


Assignments : Finish reading The Grass is Singing. Also complete movie assignment (1
page critique) for Better Luck Tomorrow.

Thu 3/30: No class.

Assignments: Finish reading The Grass is Singing.

Week 13

Tue 4/4 and Thu 4/6: Class discussion on Grass is Singing. Student presentations.

Assignments: Start researching topics for Second Paper, due 4/20. (5-6 pages)

Week 14

Tue 4/11 and Thu 4/13: Individual meetings to discuss progress on papers.

Week 15

Tue 4/20: Conclusions.

Thu 4/20: Second Paper due. Course evaluations and Pizza!

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Muhammad Betz: Konrad Lorenz, Nobel Laureate, has stated, "Everything we know about
the material world in which we live derives from our phylogentically evolved mechanisms
for acquiring information..." My first take on the current discussion relates to the
evolutionary view in general, and specifically, to the relationship between homo sapiens and
the computer, and as Lorenz has stated, this is an interactive, reciprocating relationship. The
question: Does this phenomenon indicate an evolutionary event? No, not yet. Evolution does
not occur within one generation.

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