Ways of Reading: An Introduction to the Methods of Literary Study (ENG 2250)

MWF 9:30-10:20, Tolentine 214

Scott Black, SAC 427, 610-519-4642
office hours: MW 12:00-1:30 and by appointment                 
scott.black@villanova.edu
http://www.homepage.villanova.edu/scott.black

How do we read? From impossibly complex modernist novels, to deceptively simple pop songs, annoyingly obscure old poems, hip commercials, torrid love letters, familiar cereal boxes, and even cereal itself—our lives are organized by many acts, and many kinds, of reading. This course is designed to introduce new and prospective English majors to the tools of our trade, the tools of reading. It will offer students an opportunity to explore the methods that literary critics use to read and explain texts: novels, films, songs, objects, and so on. Organized as a workshop, with ample opportunity for hands-on practice and independent exploration, the course will foreground questions of how we read. By looking at how critics and literary historians discuss particular texts, as well as the ways they explain the familiar yet mysterious activity of reading, we’ll have a chance both to see “how it’s done” and to practice doing it ourselves. Our texts will be clustered around a few central works that have elicited a variety of kinds of responses, rewritings, translations into other forms, as well as critical analyses of all sorts. This course is one step in a life-long process of reading—learning how to engage, understand, explicate, and enjoy books and texts of all sorts. It will prepare you for a career as an English major by giving you a box of tools, and a set of skills, that you’ll be able to use and develop in other classes. 

Texts (available in bookstore):

Roland Barthes, Mythologies

Henry James, The Turn of the Screw (Norton Critical Edition, 2^nd edition)

Rudyard Kipling, Kim (Norton Critical Edition)

Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses  

Further readings on e-reserve

Requirements: response papers (15%), 3 short projects (15%, 15%, 15%), mid-term (10%), final (15%), participation (15%) (You must pass each part to pass the class.)

Participation: This is a discussion class. Come to class prepared to discuss the readings. (To do this, of course, you must come to class: attendance is required). 

Exams (including surprise quizzes) will include both identifications and essays.

Plagiarism: Do your work, and do your own work. If you cheat, you fail. Period.

Writing: Because writing well is an integral component of reading well, there will be regular writing assignments in this class. These will be divided into three levels or stages:

First, for each class please bring in your reading notes. These should consist of brief responses, comments, or questions about the day’s reading. Sometimes I’ll suggest ahead of time a passage, dynamic, or theme to look for and sometimes you’ll be on your own. Reading with pen in hand will help you prepare for discussion.

Second, each week an informal response paper will be due (on Friday). These are on topics of your own choosing, responses to the week’s readings or class discussions. They may further elaborate on your reading notes or be on something completely different.

Third, there will be 3 short written projects (3-5 pages) that will allow you to practice the various kinds of reading we’ll be studying.

All papers must be word-processed, double spaced, with usual margins and font.

8/25     introduction   
8/27     Barthes, Mythologies: “Wrestling,” “Romans in Films,” “Writer on Holiday,”      “Blueblood Cruise”

8/30     Barthes, Mythologies: “Dominici,” “Novels and Children,” “Toys,” “Wine and    Milk,” “Steak and Chips,” “Blue Guide,” “Photography,” “Plastic,” “Great           Family of Man”

9/1       Barthes, Mythologies: “Myth Today”

9/3       Barthes, Mythologies: your own mythology

9/6       Labor Day: no class

9/8       Eco, “Narrative Structures in Fleming” (e-reserve)

9/10     no class (conference)

9/13     James, Turn of the Screw

9/15     James, Turn of the Screw:

            Wilson, “The Ambiguity,” Heilman, “The Freudian Reading” (in Norton Turn)
9/17     Rosh Hashanah: no class

9/20     James, Turn of the Screw:

            Felman, “Madness and the Risks of Practice” (in Norton Turn)

9/22     James, Turn of the Screw
9/24     Clayton, “The Innocents” (film)

            project 1 due

9/27     Derrida, “Structure, Sign, and Play” (e-reserve)

9/29     Derrida, “The Exorbitant” (e-reserve)
10/1     Derrida

10/4     Barthes, “The Death of the Author” (e-reserve)

10/6     Foucault, “What is an Author?” (e-reserve)

10/8     Midterm: Certeau, “Reading as Poaching” (e-reserve)

10/11   Fall Break: no class

10/18   Kipling, Kim (chs. 1-5)
10/20   Kipling, Kim (chs. 6-10)
10/22   no class (conference)

10/25   Kipling, Kim (chs. 11-15)
10/27   Kipling, Kim: Howe, “The Pleasures of Kim” (in Norton Kim)
10/29   Kipling, Kim: Said, “Kim as Imperialist Novel (in Norton Kim)

11/1     Kipling, Kim: McClure, “Kipling’s Richest Dream” (in Norton Kim)

11/3     Kipling, Kim: Roy, “Kim, the Myth of Nation” (in Norton Kim)
11/5     Kipling, Kim: Sullivan, “What Happens at the End of Kim?” (in Norton Kim)

            Rushdie, “Kipling” (e-reserve)

            project 2 due

11/8     Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 89)
11/10   Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 129)
11/12   Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 146)

11/15   Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 208)

11/17   Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 247)

11/19   Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 304)

11/22   Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 367)

11/24   Thanksgiving: no class

11/29   Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 484)
12/1     Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 521)

12/3     Rushdie, Satanic Verses (--p. 561)

            project 3 due

12/6     Rushdie, “In Good Faith” (e-reserve)
12/8     Rushdie, “Is Nothing Sacred?” (e-reserve)

12/10   Rushdie

12/13 wrap-up