ENGLISH 321: BACKGROUNDS OF WESTERN LITERATURE
This course explores selected foundational texts of Western literature. The readings should provide students with a grounding in the earliest works of Western civilization, allowing them to recognize the sources of many repeated themes in literature of later periods. Students should also learn how subsequent literature argues with and resists the “canon.” Works assigned will include ancient texts like the Old and New Testament, Gilgamesh, Greek epic and dramatic forms as well as Greek poetry. Roman classics and a brief sampling of Renaissance texts will give students a sense of Western literature’s matrix and evolution.
Class evaluation will be based on an in-class Midterm (20%), an in-class Final Exam (30%), and two analytical papers (4 pages each) (20% per paper). Participation counts 10% toward the final grade, and attendance will also be a factor in evaluation.
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