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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 346H"
COURSE NAME: "Study of the Works of a Single Modern Writer:George Eliot and Realism-HONORS (This course carries 4 semester hours of credits. A minimum CUM GPA of 3.5 is required)"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2017
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Alessandra Grego
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 10:00AM 11:15AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
60
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above.
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the work of one writer from the nineteenth century to the present. This course may be taken more than once for credit when different writers are studied.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course proposes to study in depth one of the major Victorian novelists, George Eliot, focusing specifically on her understanding of Realism. Working on a selection of her novels, essays and translations, the course will identify Eliot's understanding of Realism as opposed to what she called "Falsism" and track the development of her critical investigation of the form in her essays and letters. George Eliot's reception, both by contemporary and later readers, and her influence on authors such as Henry James, Virginia Woolf, Thomas Mann and Proust will complete the analysis of this author's potion in the development of the novel. Of the seven novels by George Eliot, we shall read The Mill on the Floss (1860), Middlemarch (1871-72) and Daniel Deronda (1876), observing how her conception of Realism and what is narratable changed quite dramatically over the twenty years she dominated the Victorian literary scene.
To complete the Honors class students will write an extra home paper and will be assigned a selection of critical readings for each novel.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will acquire an understanding of George Eliot's relevance as an author, and will the influence of the Victorian multi-plot novel on later narratives and to engage critically with the notion of Realism.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Middlemarch (Norton Critical Edition) | George Eliot | W.W. Norton and Co., 2000 | 978-0393974522 | | Please order at the Almost Corner Bookshop | | | |
| Daniel Deronda | George Eliot | Oxford University Press, 2014 | 978-0199682867 | | Please order at the Almost Corner Bookshop | | | |
| The Mill on the Floss (Norton Critical Edition) | George Eliot | W.W. Norton and Co., 1994 | 978-039393328 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| The Reception of George Eliot in Europe | E. Shafer, C. Brown (eds.) | Bloomsbury Academic, 2016 | 978-1441190222 | | |
| Geoege Eliot's Intellectual Life | Avrom Fleishman | Cambridge University Press, 2010 | 978-0521117364 | | |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| study questions | Short questions on character, plot, imagery, form of each novel | 15% |
| 3 Home Papers | | 50% |
| Final Research Paper | | 25% |
| Class participation | Coming to class having read the assignment, prepared to generate and participate in class discussion. Silent attendance does not contribute to this portion of the grade. | 10% |
| | Note that all assignments are run through Turnitin. Any instance of academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade for the assignment and will be reported to the Dean. | |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
| Week 1 | Introduction to the Course. George Eliot versus the Victorian novel | The Mill on the Floss, Bk. 1 | | |
| Week 2 | Spinoza, Feuerback, strauss: George Eliot and Christianity | The Mill on the Floss Bk. 2 and 3 | | |
| Week 3 | The Mill on the Floss and Darwinism | The Mill on the Floss, Bk. 4 and 5 | | |
| Week 4 | The Mill on the Floss and Capitalism | The Mill on the Floss, Bk. 6 and 7 | | |
| Week 5 | The Mill on the Floss and the Fallen Woman | Middlemarch, Bk. 1 and 2 | Study Questions on The Mill on the Floss due | |
| Week 6 | Middlemarch and Sainthood: Duty, DEsire and Ecstasy | Middlemarch, Bk, 3 and 4 | | |
| Week 7 | Middlemarch and Reform: Politics and Science | Middlemarch, Bk. 5 and 6 | 1st Home Paper due | |
| Week 8 | Middlemarch and Gentrification: limitations of social mobility | Middlemarch, Bk. 7 and 8 | | |
| Week 9 | Middlemarch and Common Sense: the unnarratable character | Daniel Deronda | Study Questions on Middlemarch | |
| Week 10 | Daniel Deronda and the Woman Question: Gambling | Daniel Deronda | | |
| Week 11 | Daneile Deronda and Zionism: Assimilation vs. Otherness | Daniel Deronda | 2nd Home Paper due | |
| Week 12 | Daniel Deronda and Art: The Breadth of Horizon | Daniel Deronda | | |
| Week 13 | Daniel Deronda and Imagined Comunities: England and Empire | Daniel Deronda | | |
| Week 13 | George Eliot's Mythmaking and LImits of Realism | Daniel Deronda | Study Questions on Daniel Deronda | |
| Week 14 | George Eliot's Fortune: History of her critical reception | | | |
| Week 15 | | | Final Research Paper due | |
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