LIT2110 
'Epic' Love and Drama

Instructor: Katherine Shaeffer
Instructor Email: penchanter@ufl.edu
Office Hours: Rolf 501, M 8
Course: LIT 2110, Section 3735 
Schedule: MWF 7 
Location: MAT 151 
website: http://plaza.ufl.edu/penchanter/lit2110.html

Course Description

 This course is entitled “survey of world literature,” but in practice, it will not be a “survey” proper, nor will it offer anything like a representative sample of literature from around the world. What this class will do, however, is introduce you to a variety of key literary works in the European tradition from ancient Greece to medieval and renaissance Europe. Ovid's Metamorphoses, which we will begin reading in the 5th week of classes, will serve as a kind of “key” to the semester, as its themes, tropes and images will recur in many of our other readings.

Students will learn to participate in the analytical and theoretical discourse surrounding works produced as part of the interconnected literary traditions leading up to the Western Renaissance. 

For this section of LIT 2110, we will forgo the use of the anthologized “excerpt” almost entirely in favor of examining the complete text. This means that we will be focusing on a smaller number of specific, long works than we might encounter in a more traditional survey course. It also means that, despite the comparatively small number of total texts covered in this course, the reading load will still be substantial. 

 The student learning outcomes for this course are as detailed in the Undergraduate Catalog at .”

Required Texts

 Damrosch, Davide and David L Pike, Editors. The Longman Anthology of World
	Literature. Volume A: The Ancient World. 2nd Ed. New York: Pearson, 2009. 

 Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri. Volume I: Inferno. Ed. Robert M. Durling. 	New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Ovid. Metamorphoses. Trans. A.D. Melville. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.

Lyly, John. John Lyly: Selected Prose and Dramatic Work. Ed. Leah Scragg. Manchester: Fyfield 	Books, 1997.   

 Shakespeare, William. Titus Andronicus. Ed. Russ McDonald. New York: Penguin Books, 2000.  

Assignments

Reading Responses 
Description:  You will use the “Reading Responses” as a quasi-informal forum in which you will keep track of your own reactions to course readings and share them with your colleagues. Each reading response will be submitted electronically (as a .doc or .rtf file, NOT as .docx), and will be posted to the course website. You will submit a total 4 reading responses in the course of the semester.
Length:  1-2 pages each
Points Possible:  100 points total, 25 points each
Due: January 14, February 11, February 25 and March 25

Close-Reading Essay
Description:  The “Close-Reading Essay” will be your first formal essay of the semester. You will use a formal, logical argument to analyze one aspect of one of the texts that we have explored in this class. Within those parameters, the subject and theme of this paper are entirely up to you. Your focus can be a text's particular scene, character, motif, etc. You will pull support for your argument primarily from within the text itself. The goal of this assignment is to start you thinking about our readings in an analytical way. 
Length:  6-8 pages
Points Possible:  250
Due: January 28

Comparative Analysis
Description:  The “Comparative Analysis” will use a formal, logical argument to compare and analyze either (1) two of the works we have read in class or (2) one of the works we have read in class with a related work read outside of this class. (For example, you could look at Dante's Inferno in relationship to one of the many cartoons, comics or video games based off of that text.) If you choose the second option, you will be required to run your “out of class” reading of choice by the instructor before submitting the final version of the essay. Keep in mind that a “comparative analysis” is not just a compare/contrast essay! A simple inventorying of similarities and differences in the two texts will not be considered a sufficient approach to this project; you must examine the relationship between the two texts as well. 
Length:  6-8 pages
Points Possible:  250
Due: March 18

Performances
Description:  At the end of the semester, students will perform a short 'scene' of choice from one of the last two dramatic works we will be reading for this course, Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus or Lyly's Gallathea. Each scene will be performed by the same group of students in two different ways, to highlight different possible methods for interpreting the text in question. Keep in mind that you will want to give your group a chance to rehearse outside of class, so budget your time accordingly. 
Length:  5-15 minutes
Points Possible:  50
Due: March 25 OR April 1

Prospectus for Research Paper 
Description:  The prospectus will function as a proposal written by you to the instructor that argues for approval of your final research project. If your prospectus is not “approved” by the instructor, your final research project will not be accepted. The purpose of this project is to encourage you to think about the “so what?” question that should guide your research. 
Length:  1-2 pages
Points Possible:  50
Due: April 4

Final Research Paper
Description: Your final research paper must relate to the course material in some substantial way, but other than that it is open topic. For this paper, you are expected to exhibit your skills in the areas of rhetoric, analysis, research and the incorporation of secondary-source criticism. The purpose of this project is to give you a chance to showcase all that you have learned in this class throughout the semester.
Length:  8-12 pages
Points Possible:  300
Due: April 20

Total Points Possible: 1000

Grading Policies and Procedures

To get an "A" in this course, you must:
Complete all course assignments in a timely manner.
Submit assignments with few to no grammatical and spelling errors.
Consistently participate in in-class discussions.
Be courteous to the other participants in the class.
Produce high-quality work throughout the course.
Have no more than 3 periods of unexcused absences for the term.

"A-" work will meet most, but not all, of the requirements for getting an "A."

To get a "B" in this course, you must:
Complete all course assignments in a timely manner.
Submit assignments with few grammatical and spelling errors.
Participate in most in-class discussions.
Be courteous to the other participants in the class.
Produce satisfactory work throughout the course.
Have no more than 4 unexcused absences for the term.

"B-" work will meet most, but not all, of the requirements for getting a "B."

To get a "C" in this course, you must:
Complete most course assignments in a timely manner.
Participate in some in-class discussions.
Be courteous to the other participants in the class.
Produce satisfactory work throughout the course.
Have no more than 5 unexcused absences for the term.

"C-" work will meet most, but not all, of the requirements for getting a "C."

To get a "D" in this course, you must:
Follow the UF Student Honor Code (i.e. not plagiarize)
Have no more than 6 periods of unexcused absences for the term.
Participate in some in-class discussions.
Be civil to the other participants in the class.
Earn enough "points" in your coursework to avoid an "E" score.

Grade Equivalencies
A	92-100	
A-	90-91	
B+	88-89	
B	82-87	
B-	80-81	
C+	78-79	
C	72-77	
C-	70-71	
D+	68-69	
D	62-67	
D-	60-61	
E	59 or less	

Absence and Tardiness Policies

 You get 3 “free” absences for this course. You can be absent from any class, for any reason, without it affecting your final grade. After that, each absence will drop your score for the course by one full letter grade. 

Students participating in UF-sponsored events (actors, musicians, athletes, etc.) will be excused for those events, but they must make up the work in their own time.

In-class discussion is a vital component of this course, so prolonged absences, even for medical reasons, will not be excused. 

Since each class is only one period, any student arriving to class more than 20 minutes late will be counted as “absent” for that day.

If you are consistently late to class by any amount of time, it will negatively affect your final grade.

Final Grade Appeals
In 1000- and 2000- level courses, students may appeal a final grade by filling out a form available from Carla Blount, Program Assistant. 

Please keep in mind that grade appeals may result in a higher, unchanged, or lower final grade.

Schedule
 W Jan 5: Introduction
F Jan 7: Homer's Odyssey Books 1-4 in Longman
Longman 185-200, “Classical Greece” and Homer

 M Jan 10: Homer's Odyssey Books 5-8 in Longman
 W Jan 12: Homer's Odyssey Books 9-12 in Longman
 F Jan 14: Homer's Odyssey Books 13-16 in Longman; Reading Response #1 DUE

M Jan 17: HOLIDAY. NO CLASSES.
 W Jan 19: Homer's Odyssey Books 17-20 in Longman
 F Jan 21: Homer's Odyssey Books 21-24 in Longman

 M Jan 24:  Sophocles's Oedipus the King (616-656 in Longman) and “Resonance: Aristotle” (691-694)
 W Jan 26: Aristophanes's Lysistrata (766-797)
 F Jan 28: Discussion of Tragedy and Comedy; Close Reading DUE

M Jan 31: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 1-3
W Feb 2: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 3-5
F Feb 4: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 6-8

M Feb 7: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 8-9
W Feb 9: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 10-12
 F Feb 11: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 13-15; Reading Response #2 DUE

 M Feb 14: Dante's Inferno Cantos 1-4
 W Feb 16:  Dante's Inferno Cantos 5-8
 F Feb 18:  Dante's Inferno Cantos 9-12; 

 M Feb 21:  Dante's Inferno Cantos 13-16
 W Feb 23:  Dante's Inferno Cantos 17-20
 F Feb 25:  Dante's Inferno Cantos 21-24 Reading Response #3 DUE

 M Feb 28: Dante's Inferno Cantos 25-28
 W Mar 2: Dante's Inferno Cantos 29-32
 F Mar 4: Dante's Inferno Cantos 33-34; Class decides March 16's reading

SPRING BREAK

M Mar 14: Lecture and Discussion
W Mar 16: Reading TO BE DETERMINED by the class, as a class
 F Mar 18: Discussion of Reading; Comparative Analysis DUE

 M Mar 21: Gallathea;
 W Mar 23: Continue discussion of Gallathea
 F Mar 25: Gallathea “performances”;   Reading Response #4 Due

 M Mar 28: Titus Andronicus
 W Mar 30: Continue discussion of Titus Andronicus
F Apr 1: Titus “performances”

 M Apr 4: Research Project Prospectus Due; watch Julie Taymor's Titus in class
 W Apr 6: Titus continued 
 F Apr 8: Titus continued

 M Apr 11: EVALUATION; discussion of Titus in class
W Apr 13: CONFERENCES
F Apr 15: CONFERENCES

M Apr 18: CONFERENCES
 W Apr 20: Course Review; Final Research Paper DUE

University Policies and Requirements

Statement of Composition (C) and Humanities (H) credit.

This course can satisfy the UF General Education requirement for Composition or Humanities. For more information, see : 

Statement of Writing requirement (WR)—formerly Gordon Rule. 

This course can satisfy the UF requirement for Writing. For more information, see: 
http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/advisinggordon.html

Statement of Student Disability Services

The Disability Resource Center in the Dean of Students Office provides students and faculty with information and support regarding accommodations for students with disabilities in the classroom. For more information, see: 

Statement on Harassment

UF provides an educational and working environment for its students, faculty, and staff that is free from sex discrimination and sexual harassment. For more about UF policies regarding harassment, see: 

Academic Honesty

All students are required to abide by the Student Honor Code. For more information about academic honesty, including definitions of plagiarism and unauthorized collaboration, see:  

Grade Point Equivalencies

 UF has recently instituted minus grades. As a result, letter grades now have different grade point equivalencies. For more information, see: