We will pair a
number of ancient and modern works. How
did the ancient “hero” Odysseus get his goods?
Is the ancient character Job pleased or displeased to have suffering
paid for with new wealth in flocks? Are
writers better off courting a patron or the market? What are the implications for authors and
consumers of more and more digitalizing?
Did writers exposing economic injustices ever make a difference?
Books will
include Homer’s ODYSSEY with Aravind Adiga’s THE WHITE TIGER and/or Kurt
Vonnegut’s GOD BLESS YOU, MR. ROSEWATER; the Biblical BOOK OF JOB with William Humphrey’s 20th-century “A Job of the Plains”; Chaucer’s “The
Franklin’s Tale” with Lucy Prebbles ENRON and/or Wallace Shawn’s THE
FEVER. Readings may also include
Brecht’s MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, Diane Fisher’s KETTLE BOTTOM, and
poems from Hawai’i. (Don’t take this
class if you took my Eng. 272.)
Students will
write three 3-5-page papers, an 8-10-page research paper, midterm, and
final. Discussion counts. Books will be available from Revolution
Books.