ENG 200:  The purpose of this course is first to introduce students to a range of literature to encourage a deeper appreciation of it as a source of pleasure and insight into the human condition. The second goal, which contradicts the first, is to teach skills of literary analysis so that through reading carefully, discussing collaboratively, and writing frequently students develop as readers, writers, and thinkers.

 

Textbooks:  101 Great American Poems; Billy Collins, ed. Poetry 180; Daniel Halpern, ed., The Art of the Story; Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire; Thomas King, Medicine River; handouts.

 

In the first few weeks, reading is from handouts.  You do not need to purchase these books immediately, but plan to do so in the first week of September. 

 

Assignments: 

Homework for Thursday, week 1:  Read selections from Thomas C. Foster, How to Read Literature Like a Professor.  Read xv-xvii in the introduction, chapters 5, 37 & 46 in chapter 6 (skimming the rest to get the gist), 47-48 and 54-56 in chapter 7, 57-59 and 62-63 in chapter 8, 64-65 in chapter 9, the Interlude on 82-86, 97-103 in chapter 12, 119-120 and 123-124 in chapter 14, 135-138 in chapter 16, and 235-39 in chapter 26. 

 

Homework for Tuesday, week 2:  Read Primo Levi, “Gold” from The Periodic Table, pages 127-138.

Write one page typed, single-spaced.  Include your reaction to the piece, a very brief summary (one paragraph, about 3 sentences), and analysis.

 

Homework for Thursday, week 2:  Read Maxine Hong Kingston, “The Grandfather of the Sierra Nevada Mountains” from China Men, pages 125-151.

 

The syllabus contains more information, so please pick it up as soon as possible.

 

 

Bells

        by Michael Henson

 

Bells ring when you walk

Bells in the bones of your ankles

Drums in the heels of your feet.

All through the house

and in the measure of the garden

I listen and tremble.

Bells in the bones of your ankles

Drums in the heels of your feet.

 

        reproduced by permission of the author.