SYLLABUS

Philosophy 110
Philosophy and Literature
MWF 2:00-2:50 PM
Classroom: Valade 327
Office: Valade 321
email: gcaichele@gmail.com
WWW page: http://home.comcast.net/~gcaichele/

Course Summary:

All great literature has important philosophical implications. All written philosophy is subject to literary laws. This course seeks to explore the interweavings of philosophy and literature, and how they affect the ideas, values, and beliefs of human beings. Emphasis will be placed on traditional and contemporary theories of narrative and of literary form.

This is an introductory, survey course. No previous background in philosophy or in literary studies is required or assumed. However, a number of rather complex problems will be considered. No single answer will be forced on students; students will be encouraged to form and discuss their own answers.

Required Books:

Aristotle, Poetics
Barthes, S/Z
Homer, The Odyssey
Moliere, Tartuffe
Calvino, If on a Winter's Night a Traveller
Aichele, Theology as Comedy
Handouts provided in class

The World Wide Web:

A lot of information about philosophy, literature, and related matters can be found on the World Wide Web. However, you must be careful in your use of this material, as much of it is of no scholarly value. A number of WWW links that I have found to be quite helpful can be found at http://home.comcast.net/~gcaichele/other/links.htm. If you discover other WWW pages that you think are helpful, please let me know! If I agree that the page is a good one, you will get extra credit.

Grade Requirements:

Papers may be submitted in hard copy or as email attachments in either .doc or .rtf format. No other formats will be accepted. Exams will be a combination of multiple choice and essay questions. The papers will involve the student's own analysis of selected literary topics. Extensions on assignments or make-up exams are offered only in extreme emergencies affecting you personally. Excused absences can be granted only by the instructor. There are no exceptions!

Note: if you have a documented disability, you may qualify for specific academic services. Speak with Professor Aichele or with the Academic Services staff in Jones Hall 205, extension 4413. Documentation of the disability is required.

Schedule of Assignments:

Students are expected to keep up with the reading and writing schedules even if class discussion may fall behind from time to time. Most Friday classes will be devoted exclusively to discussion of that week's reading. Not everything on the reading assignment will be covered in class, but it is all "fair game" for the exams!

1/7-11
Introduction: story and reality.
Read Homer, books 1-8.

1/14-18
The roots of literature: oral culture.
Read Homer, books 9-16.

1/23-25
The Classic as an idea.
Read Homer, books 17-20; Aristotle, pp. 1-44.

1/28-2/1
The Classic, continued.
Read Homer, books 21-24; Aristotle, pp. 45-114.

2/4-8
Review for exam, 2/6.
EXAM #1, 2/8.
Read Moliere, Preface, Acts 1-2.

2/11-15
Tragedy and Comedy.
Read Moliere, Acts 3-5.
Read Aichele, pp. 9-34.

2/18-22
Print culture.
Read handouts: essays by Benjamin, Eco, and Calvino.
PAPER #1 due, 2/22.

§ Mid-Semester Break §
NOTE: midterm grades will not be given in this course! If you want to know how your grade stands at midterm (or at any other time), see the instructor.

3/3-7
Romanticism.
Read "Sarrasine" in Barthes (pp. 221-254), and Barthes handout.

3/10-14
Existentialism.
Read Barthes, pp. 3-75.

3/17-19
Review for exam, 3/19.
Read Barthes, pp. 75-147.

3/24-28
EXAM #2, 3/24.
Language and Translation.
Read Barthes, pp. 147-217.

3/31-4/4
Movie: O Brother Where Art Thou?
Read Calvino, pp. 3-90.

4/7-11
Electronic culture.
Read Calvino, pp. 91-168.

4/14-18
Postmodernism.
Read Calvino, pp. 169-260.
PAPER #2 due, 4/18.
Review for exam, 4/18.

FINAL EXAM (#3) on Tuesday, April 22, at 8:30 AM.