Course Schedule

This schedule is subject to change according to the needs of the class. You are responsible for all schedule changes announced in class and on this blog. Be prepared to discuss readings on the dates listed. We will view films in class.

M 1/11 Course Introduction: What is (World) Literature?

Oral Narratives and Ancient Writing

W 1/13 Kenya, Tanzania. Maasai and Kalenjin Oral Literature. Kipury. “The Sun and the Moon,” “The Girl Who Married a Crow.”

F 1/15 Kipury. “The Greedy Man Who Almost Went Hungry,” selected proverbs. Chesaina. “The Man Who Never Attended Public Gatherings,” selected proverbs.

M 1/18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. No class.

W 1/20 Egypt. Armah and Lam. Hieroglyphics for Babies (complete drawing exercises and read text).

F 1/22 Armah and Lam. Hieroglyphics for Babies (finish).

Representing the Colonial Incursion

M 1/25 Mexico. de Landa.Selection from Relación de las cosas de Yucatán (Account of Things in Yucatán). Due: Commentary.

W 1/27 Ghana. Aidoo. Anowa, pp. 55-81.

F 1/29 Aidoo. Anowa, pp. 82-102. Due: Online commentary to blog by 5pm EST.

M 2/1 Aidoo. Anowa, finish. Due: Learning Activity: Kid’s Stuff? Optional draft.

W 2/3 Nigeria. Soyinka. Death and the King’s Horseman, pp. 3-37.

F 2/5 University closed -- snow day.

M 2/8 University closed -- snow day.

W 2/10 University closed -- snow day.

F 2/12 Soyinka. Death and the King’s Horseman. Due: (12:20 class) Learning Activity: Kid’s Stuff? final paper. Due: Commentary: online blog post by 5pm EST.

M 2/15 Soyinka. Death and the King’s Horseman.

Art and Armed Struggle

W 2/17 Palestine, Malaya, Algeria, South Africa, and Northern Ireland. Film: In the Name of Liberation. Due: (9:05 class) Learning Activity: Kid’s Stuff? final paper.

F 2/19 Film: In the Name of Liberation. Martinique, Algeria. Fanon. Selection from The Wretched of the Earth.

M 2/22 Chile. Neruda. “The United Fruit Co.” and “The Beggars.” Due: Commentary.

W 2/24 South Africa. Film: Witness to Apartheid. Due: Group Community Service Project Proposal.

F 2/26 Film: Witness to Apartheid.

M 3/1 Mid-term Exam.

Postcolonial Literature

W 3/3 Colombia. Magic Realism. Marquez. Collected Stories, “Big Mama’s Funeral.”

F 3/5 Marquez. Collected Stories, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.” Due: Learning Activity: Gender and War optional draft.

M-F 3/8-12 Spring Break. No class.

M 3/15 Marquez. Collected Stories, “The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother.” Due: Commentary.

W 3/17 Marquez. Collected Stories, “The Incredible and Sad Tale of Innocent Eréndira and Her Heartless Grandmother.”

F 3/19 Marquez. Collected Stories, “Eyes of a Blue Dog.”

M 3/22 Mexico. Film: Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate). Due: Learning Activity: Gender and War final paper.

W 3/24 Film: Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate). Due: Learning Activity: “Poetry of Revolt” optional draft.

F 3/26 Film: Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate).

M 3/29 Film: Como agua para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate). Due: Commentary.

W 3/31 Haiti and Diaspora. Danticat. Krik? Krak! “Children of the Sea.”

F 4/2 Danticat. Krik? Krak! “Caroline’s Wedding.” Due: Learning Activity: “Poetry of Revolt” final paper.

M 4/5 Danticat. Krik? Krak! “The Missing Peace.” Due: Commentary.

W 4/7 Jamaica. Film: Life and Debt.

F 4/9 Film: Life and Debt.

M 4/12 Film: Life and Debt. Due: Commentary.

W 4/14 India and Diaspora. Lahiri. Unaccustomed Earth, “Once in a Lifetime.” Due: Learning Activity: Reading a Region optional draft

F 4/16 Lahiri. Unaccustomed Earth, “Year’s End.”

M 4/19 Film: Monsoon Wedding.

W 4/21 Film: Monsoon Wedding.

F 4/23 Film: Monsoon Wedding. Due: Learning Activity: Reading a Region final paper.

M 4/26 Film: Monsoon Wedding. Due: Commentary.

W 4/28 Lahiri. Unaccustomed Earth, “Going Ashore.”

F 4/30 Final Exam.

W 5/5 Section 1 (9:05 class): 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Group Community Service Project Presentations. Course wrap-up and reflection.

F 5/7 Section 4 (12:20 class): 8:00-10:00 a.m. Group Community Service Project Presentations. Course wrap-up and reflection.