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World Literature from Ancient Times to the Early Modern Period (Honors)


Course Description

A representative selection of literary work from around the world, from ancient times to the early modern period. Special emphasis will be placed on the relevance of these texts, however old, to contemporary society around the world.


Athena Title

World Lit Ancient to Modern H


Prerequisite

Permission of Honors


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

- to introduce students to major works of world literature written from ancient times to early modern, with special on the relevance of these texts, however old, to contemporary society around the world; - to help students situate those works within larger historical and cultural contexts; - to provide students with an understanding of the conventions of literary composition and reception that inform their creation, such as conventions of genre, metrics, style, etc.; - to improve students' communication skills through oral presentations in class and expository writing assignments, including in-class and out-of-class essays. Students' performances will be evaluated through a variety of means, including assessment of oral presentations, objective tests, essays, and the final examination.


Topical Outline

The typical course consists of a series of readings in world literature written from ancient times to the early modern period, with special on the relevance of these texts, however old, to contemporary society around the world. The topics considered are generated by the specific work under analysis. (The question of writing systems and the preservation of literary works, for example, is germane to the study of Gilgamesh.) The works treated will vary with the instructor. The following is a sample syllabus of readings for a single semester: Gilgamesh Homer. The Iliad (selections) Confucius. Analects (selections) Ramayana. (selections) Virgil. The Aeneid (selections) Murasaki. The Tale of Genji (selections) Ishaq. The Biography of the Prophet (selections) Boccaccio. The Decameron (selections) Cervantes. Don Quijote (selections) Milton. Paradise Lost (selections)


General Education Core

CORE IV: Humanities and the Arts

Syllabus