Humans and Other Animals
CLST 227
Fall 2025
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01
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How have humans imagined the inner lives of other animals over time? What categories and roles have human societies assigned other animals, and how have we understood our responsibilities to them? This course presents readings from the earliest examples of world literature to contemporary theory and philosophy to explore human-animal relations across cultures and historical periods. How might these narratives and ideas inform our own relationships to other animals and our place in the planet's ecosystem? This co-taught course offers an interdisciplinary introduction to literature, animal studies, and environmental humanities, with a focus on close reading and effective academic writing.
Exemplary texts: the Sumerian epic Gilgamesh; selections from Homer's Odyssey and Vergil's Georgics; selections from the Sanskrit Ramayana; readings from Marie de France, Rilke, Kafka and J.M. Coetzee; readings on animal ethology, philosophy, and the legal status of non-human persons. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA CLST |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Classical Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
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Examinations and Assignments:
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
-This course satisfies the Literature & Performance and History, Politics, & Social justice requirements for the Classical Studies major |
| Instructor(s): Seo,Mira Weil,Kari Times: .M.W... 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 4 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 5 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 5 | FR: 5 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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