ENGL 497.001

Special Topics in Literature

NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.

This Semester: POE, DICKINSON, WHITMAN

Course Description:

This course will explore the work of three brilliant and fascinating American poets whose influence and popularity in literature, the arts, and popular culture have increased rather than decreased in the 100+ years since their deaths. Through close reading and discussion of Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson and Walt WhitmanÍs poetry, we will enrich our knowledge of their style and their concerns as writers in order to understand what continues to make their work relevant, exciting and provocative.

Texts:

Final Harvest: Emily Dickinson (Back Bay Books)

Walt WhitmanÍs Leaves of Grass (Vintage Books)

The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (Everyman Books)

Requirements:

You are expected to attend class regularly, complete all homework assignments and participate in class discussion. You are expected to read carefully and come to class prepared for the discussion. All written and creative work must be turned in on time. There will be one essay, a series of short creative assignments, a final creative project and a final exam.

Attendance:

More than two absences will lower your grade. After the second absence, your grade will be lowered by one-third (in other words, a plus or minus.) Repeated lateness (or leaving early) will count as half an absence.

Grades:

Grading will be based on papers, presentations, and creative projects and final exam.

Poe assignments: 20%

Dickinson assignments: 20%

Whitman assignments: 20%

Final creative project: 20%

Final exam: 20%

The Communications Design faculty policy on plagiarism:

It is illegal and unethical to use someone elseÍs work without properly crediting the source, whether online, print, or other. If you are not sure whether to credit a source, or to quote or paraphrase, or to use original language, please ask me in advance, or err o the side of citing the source you are using. If I discover that youÍve plagiarized material for this class, I will follow the universityÍs policy for violations of academic integrity (See the UB Student Handbook for this policy). Under that policy, the consequences of plagiarism can include failing this course and being expelled from the university.

Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?

--Walt Whitman

Course Outline

WEEK 1

I. Introduction

WEEKS 2-6

II. Edgar Allan Poe: Imaginary Realms

"No rays from the holy heaven come down

On the long night-time of that town;

But light from out the lurid sea

Streams up the turrets silently"

Reading: The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, selections

WEEKS 7-10

III. Emily Dickinson: A Spiritual Discipline

The Soul selects her own Society—

Then—shuts the Door—

To her divine Majority—

Present no more—

Reading: Final Harvest, selections

WEEKS 11-15

IV. Walt Whitman: Extraordinary Declarations

I celebrate myself and sing myself

And what I assume you shall assume

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

Reading: Leaves of Grass, selections




			ENGL 497.001 Special Topics in Literature NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester. This Semester: POE, DICKINSON, WHITMAN Course Description: This course will explore the work of three brilliant and fascinating American poets whose influence and popularity in literature, the arts, and popular culture have increased rather than decreased in the 100+ years since their deaths. Through close reading and discussion of Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson and Walt WhitmanÍs poetry, we will enrich our knowledge of their style and their concerns as writers in order to understand what continues to make their work relevant, exciting and provocative. Texts: Final Harvest: Emily Dickinson (Back Bay Books) Walt WhitmanÍs Leaves of Grass (Vintage Books) The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe (Everyman Books) Requirements: You are expected to attend class regularly, complete all homework assignments and participate in class discussion. You are expected to read carefully and come to class prepared for the discussion. All written and creative work must be turned in on time. There will be one essay, a series of short creative assignments, a final creative project and a final exam. Attendance: More than two absences will lower your grade. After the second absence, your grade will be lowered by one-third (in other words, a plus or minus.) Repeated lateness (or leaving early) will count as half an absence. Grades: Grading will be based on papers, presentations, and creative projects and final exam. Poe assignments: 20% Dickinson assignments: 20% Whitman assignments: 20% Final creative project: 20% Final exam: 20% The Communications Design faculty policy on plagiarism: It is illegal and unethical to use someone elseÍs work without properly crediting the source, whether online, print, or other. If you are not sure whether to credit a source, or to quote or paraphrase, or to use original language, please ask me in advance, or err o the side of citing the source you are using. If I discover that youÍve plagiarized material for this class, I will follow the universityÍs policy for violations of academic integrity (See the UB Student Handbook for this policy). Under that policy, the consequences of plagiarism can include failing this course and being expelled from the university. Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you? --Walt Whitman Course Outline WEEK 1 I. Introduction WEEKS 2-6 II. Edgar Allan Poe: Imaginary Realms "No rays from the holy heaven come down On the long night-time of that town; But light from out the lurid sea Streams up the turrets silently" Reading: The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, selections WEEKS 7-10 III. Emily Dickinson: A Spiritual Discipline The Soul selects her own Society— Then—shuts the Door— To her divine Majority— Present no more— Reading: Final Harvest, selections WEEKS 11-15 IV. Walt Whitman: Extraordinary Declarations I celebrate myself and sing myself And what I assume you shall assume For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. Reading: Leaves of Grass, selections home \| bs, corporate communication \| ba, english \| ma, publications design \| mfa, integrated design \| mfa, creative writing & publishing arts \| people \| portfolio \| facilities \| classes \| undergraduate applications \| graduate applications \| contact \| site index \| university of baltimore