Literature as a Form of Knowledge
FIST 124
Fall 2015 not offered
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Fiction and literature (poiesis) overlap but are not the same. While all literature may be said to be fiction, not all fiction is literature (consider legal fictions and medical cases). What is literature? And can we regard literature as a specific domain of knowledge? We explore the origins, meanings, uses, and logic of our modern conception of literature by looking closely at one of its foundational moments--the notion of literature that emerged in the 16th and 17th centuries as part of a broader early modern revolution that challenged tradition through personal experience. The Spanish encounter with the New World and the political tensions of the period went hand-in-hand with highly innovative, problematic, and productive historical, religious, and fictional genres such as the New World Chronicle (the crónica de Indias), mystical poetry (Saint Theresa, Saint John of the Cross), picaresque novels, and commercial theater (Lope de Vega, Calderón). This course will examine how different literary genres and fictional modes promote the idea that literature offers its own kinds of knowledge. Some of the topics studied will include (a) the uses of fiction as an instrument of knowledge in such Renaissance and Baroque genres as utopian narratives, the dialogue, and religious and political satire; and (b) the interplay of science, mythology, love poetry, pastoral, and adventure novels. Since Cervantes worked in all major literary genres of the period and remains a hugely influential writer to this day, we will use his works in the second half of the course as a test case for how fiction's place in society was radically reimagined in this period. All the texts will be read in English translations ranging from 16th century to today. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Credit/Unsatisfactory |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Luis de Leon, THE NAMES OF CHRIST
Jorge de Montemayor, THE SEVEN BOOKS OF THE DIANA
Antonio de Torquemada, THE GARDEN OF CURIOUS FLOWERS
Poetry selections from: Garcilaso de la Vega, Francisco de Aldana, Thomas Wyatt, San Juan de la Cruz, John Donne and Góngora
Lope de Vega, THE PILGRIM, OR THE STRANGER IN HIS OWN COUNTRY
Ignacio de Loyola, SPIRITUAL EXERCICES
Cabeza de Vaca, SHIPWRECKED
Francis Bacon, THE WISDOM OF THE ANCIENTS
Selection from some of the Cervantes's works.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly responses in the course blog (two individual postings and weekly comments on other student's postings); two short papers (to devise your own theory of literature); a final research paper (10 pp.); an oral presentation; attendance and informed participation. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
First-year seminars (FYS) will introduce students to a variety of topics ranging from Greek myth to neuroscience. Some of these classes treat a specific thinker (e.g., Kafka); others provide a sweeping introduction into an interdisciplinary area of study that may be new to first-year students (e.g., animal studies). All of these classes, however, will emphasize the importance of writing at the university level. Students in first year seminars will become familiar with the methods used to collect, interpret, analyze, and present evidence as part of a scholarly argument. Faculty teaching these classes will also highlight the type of writing associated with their respective disciplines, and help students develop, compose, organize, and revise their writing. All first year seminars will have assignments totaling at least 20 pages, and will feature oral or written feedback on student writing; many will also employ peer-mentoring and writing tutors. FYS are limited to 15 students.
This class will be graded on a pass/no pass basis and students must achieve a minimum cumulative grade of C+ (78.5) in order to pass the course. Students will receive letter grades on all assignments and, while invited to office hours at any time, will also be required to meet with the instructor once around mid-term to discuss progress in the course. In lieu of a final grade, students will receive written comments available also to her/his advisor; the instructor hopes the comments will serve as the basis for a conversation about intellectual growth and curiosity, objectives, and skills and their assessment. |
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