Western World Literature I

English 2111 Fall 2009
Western World Literature I
CRN 82216, Section 46, R 5:30-8 p. m., WRC 1 113 (Online)

Dr. Thomas Harrison
Office M-133
Phone 478-471-5799
Fax (Humanities Division) 478-757-3624
Email thomas.harrison@maconstate.edu

Purpose: The reading, comprehension, and appreciation of some of the monuments of literature that have led to traditions and concepts that have shaped modern consciousness. Understanding as far as possible of the cultures of the ancient Middle East and Mediterranean that led directly and indirectly to the civilizations of the West as well as other civilizations of Africa and Asia. Understanding of the culture of the European Middle Ages that lead ultimately to the flowering of the Renaissance. Awareness of the historical, economic, and political as well as cultural forces that shaped the ancient, medieval, and early modern worlds. Demonstration of ability in critical thinking, reading and writing skills and in the location and organization of information. Assessment will be through papers and essay examinations.

Formal Requirements: Two short papers of about two pages each. These will not be "reseach papers" but will require some minimal research. More specific details will be provided a week before each paper is due. Midterm and final exams. All exams will be essay and will be designed to test comprehension of classroom discussion as well as reading of the works assigned.

Online Classes: Please submit papers in Word (.doc) or Rich Text (.txt) format to the MSC email listed above. If you have Word 2007, it wouldn't hurt to save the papers as Word 97-2003 documents before submitting. Responses to the discussion topics posted in Vista are required and will be the basis for a participation grade for the class.

Research: I would like for the research for the papers to involve not reading books or essays about the works, but investigation of other aspects of the cultures in question which may help understand the works in question. GALILEO and Internet resources can be especially useful for this kind of investigation.

Technical Policy: A plagiarism prevention service may be used in evaluation of written work submitted for this course. As directed by the instructor, students are expected to submit or have their assignment submitted through the service in order to meet requirements for this course. The paper may be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.

Student Conduct: As a Macon State College student and as a student in this class, it is your responsibility to read, understand, and abide by the MSC Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct is included in the MSC Student Handbook and is available online at

Disability Accommodations: Students seeking academic accommodations for a special need must contact the MSC Counseling and Career Center (478-471-2714) located on the second floor of the Student Life Center on the Macon campus.

Assessment: All papers and tests--and class participation--will count toward the final grade for the course. The average of the four grades, two papers, midterm and final, weighted equally, will be the basis for the grade in the course.

Electronic Submissions: For some assignments, email submission is acceptable. If you submit by email, be sure to ask for an acknowledgement. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, do not assume that the instructor has received the assignment.

Class will meet for orientation on the first day, Thursday, August 20, 5:30-6:30 p. m.

Main Readings:	Secondary Readings:
Gilgamesh 55	Descent of Inanna 23
Genesis The Creation 140 The Flood 145 Joseph 151 Job 169	Epic of Creation 40 Deuteronomy 235 Dead Sea Scrolls 242 Rig Veda 776 Buddhist Texts 778
Iliad 288	Heraclitus 780
	Aristotle 782
Agamemnon 806	Plato Allegory 1111
The Eumenides 858	Thucydides 1135
Antigone 952
The Aeneid (Only as it relates to Inferno) Book 4 1222 (Dido and Aeneas) Book 6 1240 (Descent into the Underworld)

Poets of Tang Dynasty 318

Beowulf 482
The Song of Roland 540	Robert the Monk 586
Inferno 689