Syllabus for English 180E: The Epic Wheeler 30: 12:30-2:00

NEW: DATES FOR PAPERS:

First paper --Oct 5
Second paper--Nov 21.

See also changes to James Joyce reading below.

Aug 29. Introduction

“ 31, The Iliad—Books 1-6.

Sept. 5. Iliad—Books 7-16 You can read very quickly the battle scenes

“ 7. “ Books 17-24

Sept. 12. Odyssey: Books 1-8.

“ 14. “ : Books 9-16

Sept. 19. Odyssey: Books 17-24.

“ 21. Aeneid: Books 1-4.

Sept 26. Aeneid: Books 5-8.

“ 28. “ Books 9-12.

Oct. 3: Dante, Inferno: Cantos 1-8

“ 5. “ “ Cantos, 9-17

Oct. 10. Dante: Inferno: Cantos:18-24.

12. Midterm on everything assigned up to this date.

Oct 17. Dante: Inferno: Cantos 25-end

“ 19. Dante: Paradiso Canto 1-8

Oct 24. Dante: Paradiso. Canto 9-17.

“ 26. NO Class

Oct 31. Dante: Paradiso. Canto 18-24.

Nov 2. “ “ Canto 25-end.

Nov 7. Milton: Paradise Lost. Books 1-2.

“ 9. “ “ Books 9-10.

Nov 14-30. Joyce. Ulyssess. WE will read this text for six classes so we have to proceed at a rate of 125 pages a week to prepare for the fact that the text gets more difficult in its last quarter.

Week 1: A. TElemachus and Calypso--2-23; 54-70
B. Lotus Eaters and Aeolus 71-86; 116-150

Week 2 A. Scylla and Charybdis --184-218
B. Wandering Rocks -- 219-55

Week 3 A. Circe 429-619
B. Ithaca and Penelope 666- 737- 738-783

Dec 5. Summary Discussion—can we come up with some theoretical claims about the Western epic.

“ 7. Instructor’s review.

 

Attendance is required; after more than one absence grades will be lowered one-third a step . There will be one 4-6 page paper on any one text and one 8-10 page paper comparing at least two texts. Details later.