UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

LIT 2000: INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

SYLLABUS

Spring 2022

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Instructor: Dr./Professor Galina Rylkova

Office: Dauer 256

office hours: Mondays, Fridays from  3.00 p.m. to 3.50 p.m. 

E-Mail: grylkova@ufl.edu

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE: ENC 1101

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the unique and changing role literature has played in individuals’ lives and in society. It is centered on three deceptively simple questions: What is literature? Why do we write literature? And why do we read literature? It introduces students to a range of literary genres, from different countries and historical periods.

 

Among the primary aims of this course is to help students develop the critical skill of analysis and interpretation. Students will also learn how formal and stylistic elements as well as historical context shape the meaning and significance of literature. By becoming more skillful readers of literature and its contexts, students become better readers of the worlds that literature addresses, develop their ability to decipher meaning from language, and better understand their own interactions with science, technology, media, commerce, and politics.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

In addition to gaining a deeper appreciation of the expressive potential of language and the varieties of literature, students will develop a broader cultural literacy and an understanding of the changing definition and role of literature in society.

 

Therefore, by the conclusion of the course it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the content of specific literary works and the structures and conventions of different literary genr
2. Produce critical readings of literary texts, using different methods of interpretation and analysis. Identify and interpret formal and genre-related elements in the studied texts.
3. Critically assess the variety of roles that literature has played historically and continues to play in the human e
4. Draw connections between literary texts and their biographical, historical, and cultural contexts of authorship and reading.

 

THE REQUIRED MATERIALS:

The following texts should be purchased at the University Bookstore, other Gainesville booksellers, ordered online, or checked out from the library, etc. The Instructor will supply all other readings.

 

• The Portable Dante, translated by Mark Musa (BOOK)
• Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (BOOK)
• Donna Tart, The Secret History (BOOK)

 

GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

Summary of grading

1. Attendance & participation/in-class discussion/quizzes/pass-fail creative assignments (20%)
2. 1 Close Reading of a literary text or passage (15%)
3. 1 Critical Analysis paper (25%)
4. 2 take-home exams (20% each = 40%)

 

1. Attendance & Participation (20%)

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory and will be assessed by class roll or sign-up sheet. Students will lose 1% from their final grade for every unexcused absence. Absences will be excused in accordance with UF policy. Acceptable reasons include illness, religious holidays, military obligation, and the twelve-day rule (https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx). Should you miss a class for any reason, you are responsible for informing yourself as to what was covered in class.

Participation: Students are expected to read and review the assigned readings before class. Each class will begin with a series of basic questions on the contents of the assigned readings. If students are unable to answer these questions, it will be assumed that they have not prepared the homework and will lose 1%. In addition, I will also send you some prompts or discussion questions that you should keep in mind while reading the assigned portions of the text/s. Discussion questions will be distributed in advance via e-mail and will be posted on e-learning on the Canvas website. There will be mandatory discussion assignments, quizzes, and occasional creative assignments that will also contribute to this portion of the final grade. 

        

2. Close Reading Assignment: 750 words, 15%

This assignment will test student skills in close reading of poetry, drama, or short fiction. Students will be expected to analyze a text carefully and develop an argument regarding the whole of the text through a close reading. No outside sources may be used for this assignment. The Close Reading assignment is due Sunday, March 6, 11.59 p.m. or earlier.

 

 

All students, whatever their grade, will have the option to rewrite their essays.

 

3. Critical Analysis Paper: 1,500 words, 25%

This assignment asks students to combine close reading skills with critical concepts or historical information introduced in one of the supplemental readings. The goal is for students to produce a strong conceptual argument supported by textual and contextual evidence. The Critical Analysis Paper is Tuesday, April 26, 11.59 p.m.

 

4. 2 Take-home exams (20% each—together 40%of the total grade)

See syllabus for the exact dates. The exams will be written at home, which will help you to check your factual knowledge and understanding of the assigned texts. The exams will be comprised of identification, textual analysis, and short essay questions based on readings, lectures and classroom discussion.  

 

CLASSROOM POLICIES:

• Makeup Policy: Except in the case of certified illness or other UF accepted excuse (https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx), there will be no make-up option for missed or late assignments/exams. Where possible, make-ups should be arranged by email or in person prior to the expected absence. In case of illness, student should contact instructor on his or her return to classes.
• Unexcused Absence Policy: Student will lose 1% from their final grade for each unexcused absence.
• Late Policy: A class roll will be available for students to sign at the front of the class before class begins. If a student is late, he or she will have to sign the "late roll sheet" after class. Such lateness distracts other students and the instructor and will affect the student’s final participation grade. Students will lose 0.5% from their final grade each time they arrive late.
• Cell phone policy: Students must turn cell phones to silent before coming to class. Each time a student’s cell phone rings or each time that a student texts during class, 1% will be deducted from that student’s final grade (i.e. the student will be marked as absent).
• Laptop policy: Students may use laptops to take notes or read electronic textbooks. Wifi must be disabled in class. Students who use the Internet will be marked as absent and 1% will be deducted from the student’s final grade (i.e. the student will be marked as absent).

 

Grading Scale (& GPA equivalent):

A 100-93 (4.0)

A- 92-90 (3.67)

B+89-87  (3.33)

B 86-83 (3.0)

B- 82-80 (2.67)

C+ 79-77 (2.33)

C 76-73  (2.0)

C- 72-70 (1.67)

D+ 69-67(1.33)

D 63-66 (1.0)

D- 62-60 (0.67)

E 59- (0)

 

Note: There is no rounding up in this course. If you earn 92.99, your grade is A-

 

Note: A grade of C− is not a qualifying grade for major, minor, Gen Ed, or College Basic distribution credit. For further information on UF's Grading Policy, see: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx

http://www.isis.ufl.edu/minusgrades.html

 

Academic Honesty: Students are required to be honest in their coursework and must properly cite all sources that they have consulted for their projects. Any act of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students, and may result in failure of the assignment in question and/or the course. For University of Florida’s honor code, see http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/honorcodes/honorcode.php

 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Contact the Disability Resources Center (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/) for information about available resources for students with disabilities.

 

Counseling and Mental Health Resources: Students facing difficulties completing the course or who are in need of counseling or urgent help should call the on-campus Counseling and Wellness Center (352 392-1575; http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/).

 

Online Course Evaluation: Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course based on 10 criteria. These evaluations are conducted online at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester (or days, in the case of the summer), but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu.

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

Students should note that the schedule is a guideline and may change

 

UNIT   I –        WHAT IS LITERATURE? 

 

What is Literature?  January 5, 7, 10

Reading assignments:

                        January 5: How do we know it is literature? Anna Akhmatova, “He loved Three Things” (PDF file)

January 7; Viktor Shklovsky, “The Resurrection of the Word” (a PDF file)

“Introduction: What is literature?” Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983), pp. 1-15

https://www.dartmouth.edu/~engl5vr/Eagle1.html

Bob Dylan, “It’s Alright, Ma, I’m Only Bleeding”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYajHZ4QUVM

Lyrics: http://bobdylan.com/songs/its-alright-ma-im-only-bleeding/

Dylan’s the Nobel Prize acceptance speech: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/12/speech-bob-dylan-nobel-prize/510332/

 

January 10: Martin Luther King, “I have a dream” speech Text and audio: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

                       

Drama 

Reading assignments:

January 12: Sophocles, Oedipus Rex (lines 1-180)

http://abs.kafkas.edu.tr/upload/225/Oedipus_the_King_Full_Text.pdf

 

January 14: Sophocles, Oedipus Rex (lines 1-740)

http://abs.kafkas.edu.tr/upload/225/Oedipus_the_King_Full_Text.pdf

 

January 17: Martin Luther King’s Day, NO CLASS

 

January 19:  Sophocles, Oedipus Rex (lines 1-1728)

http://abs.kafkas.edu.tr/upload/225/Oedipus_the_King_Full_Text.pdf

 

January 21: 

Watch Igor Stravinsky’s opera “Oedipus Rex.” Discussion.

Epic

Reading assignments:

January 24: Dante, Inferno, Cantos I, II (BOOK)

January 26: Dante, Inferno, Cantos II, III (BOOK)

January 28: Dante, Inferno, Cantos IV, V (BOOK)

January 31-2: Dante, Inferno, Cantos XXVI, XXXIV (BOOK)

February 4-7: Dante, Purgatory, Cantos I, XXX, XXXI, XXXII (Book)

 

Poetry

Reading assignments:

February 9: Haiku (Japanese form of poetry, a PDF file)

http://sacred-texts.com/shi/jh/index.htm

Please, watch this short video on Haiku: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJHCGPp4G4k

If you want a tutorial on writing Haiku, please, check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUDuRwKwh8k

February 11-14:  Emily Dickinson, The 10 Best Emily Dickinson Poems

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/67591-the-10-best-emily-dickinson-poems.html

Elizabeth Bishop, “One Art”;

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/one-art

 

February 16: Anna Akhmatova, “Lot’s Wife,” “Muse,” “Dante,” (http://www.colorado.edu/engineering/sites/default/files/Herbst-PoetrySeminar-Week1-0415.pdf)

Wislawa Szymborska “Lot’s Wife”

Warsan Shire, “Home”

Short Story:

Reading assignments:

February 18: Steven Millhauser, “The Ambition of the Short Story” http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/books/review/Millhauser-t.html?pagewanted=print

Hemingway, “A Very Short Story”: http://mrirwin.pbworks.com/f/Hemingway,+Ernest+-+A+Very+Short+Story.pdf

 

February 21:

Flannery O’Connor: “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (a PDF file)

Excerpts from O’Connor’s Diary: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/09/16/my-dear-god (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

 

 

February 23:

Frank O’Connor, “My Oedipus Complex”: http://www.cyc-net.org/cyc-online/cycol-0201-oconnor.html

 

February 25:

Take-home Test 1, due Saturday, February 26 (11.59 p.m.)

           

UNIT   II –      WHY DO WE WRITE?

                                                                                                           

Shaping Citizens: Moral Instruction  

Reading assignments:

February 28: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (book, Part I, chapters 1, 2, 3)

Irvin Weil on Dostoevsky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayh-ehvFVfU

March 2: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (book, Part I, chapters 4, 5, 6, 7; Part II chapters 1, 2)

March 4: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (Part III, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

 

CLOSE READING EXERCISE DUE Sunday, March 6 (11.59 p.m.)

 

March 7, 9, 11 MARCH BREAK, NO CLASSES

Do your best to keep on reading Crime and Punishment

March 14: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (book; Part IV, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

March 18: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (book; Part V, chapters 2, 3, 4; Part VI, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

March 21: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (book Part VI, chapter 6, 7, Epilogue)