ENGL
6680
The
Nature of Story
www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~mmagouli
Instructor:
Dr. Mary Magoulick
Office Phone: 445-3177
Office:
A&S 3-21; email: mary.magoulick@gcsu.edu
Hours: T 3:30-4:30, WR 11-12
Cruikshank, Julie, ed. Life Lived Like a Story: Life Stories of Three Yukon
Native Elders. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990.
Dundes, Allen. Sacred Narrative: Readings in the Theory of Myth.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984.
Gardner, John and John Maier. Gilgamesh: Traslated from the Sîn-Leqi Unninnī
Version. New York: Vintage, 1984.
King, Thomas. Green Grass, Running Water. New York: Bantam Books, 1993.
Kingsolver, Barbara. Prodigal Summer. New York: Perennial, 2000.
Lévi-Strauss, Claude. Myth and Meaning: Cracking the Code of Culture.
New York: Schocken Books, 1978/1995.
Sproul, Barbara, ed. Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World. San
Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 1979.
Also a course packet, to be explained in class.
We will consider “the nature of story” in its two senses – understanding
narrative theoretically and artistically, and understanding connections between
narrative and the environment or landscape. We will thus read myths, theories of
myth and narrative, information about nature and the environment, and ideas on
connections between the environment and culture. The course will be exploratory
in nature, but takes as an assumption that many myths and works of literature
are intimately informed by and reflective of the natural world. What this myth
reflection of the human relationship to and conception of nature reveals,
remains to be seen. But even from the outset, students should anticipate
examining questions surrounding current environmental destruction (by humans).
This is a graduate seminar, thus dependant upon strong student input and
participation.
Students should expect to attain
reasonable fluency by the end of the semester in theories of myth and narrative,
as well as familiarity with many of the world’s myths. They should also be
versed in major environmental problems and literature, along with intersections
between literature and nature. Students should also expect to become familiar
with graduate seminar style discussion of theory and literature, deepening
abilities in textual analysis, application of relevant theories, and
understanding contextual and historical research methods. Students should also
expect to improve ability in researching and writing graduate level essays.
Discussions will often be philosophical in nature, but with a text-centered
literary approach.
Grading
Critical
Responses:
10%
Essay
I:
30%
Essay
II
50%
Other
Work & Participation: 10%
Grades
on individual assignments will be based on effort and thoughtfulness as well as
correctness of logic and development of ideas. Prior to mid-semester, you
will receive feedback on your academic performance in this course. All students
must have a conference with me (in my office) regarding the two essays.
<
E-mail
me if you have any questions or concerns about the class, readings, or
assignments.
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It
is your responsibility as a student to keep up with work and any changes in the
syllabus (even for classes you may miss). Late work will not be accepted and
make-up exams will not be possible. Attendance in this class is mandatory.
Respectful participation is expected.
<
Cheating
and plagiarism are unethical and unacceptable (and a waste of your tuition).
Doing your own work helps you learn and makes the most of your experience here.
Cheaters will fail.
<
This
syllabus is a guide and is subject to revision. It is your responsibility as a
student to note and adhere to any changes.
Week
1 – Course Introduction
·
Myth
and Narrative Theory
·
Connection
between Myth and Nature
·
Changes
in Conceptions of Story and Art over time
·
Contemporary
Narrative and Connections to Myth / Nature
Watch
2 videos (Sex Under Siege & Tales of the Human Dawn)
Week
2 & 3 – Prehistory to History
Week
2 – READ: The Epic of Gilgamesh
Week
3 – READ: from Reader: Ridley, Genome (2, “Species”), White, Prehistoric
Art & Ridley, Nature Via Nurture, Chp. 8, “Conundrums of
Culture”)
Weeks
4 & 5 – Mythology
Week
4: READ: from Reader: Merchant, “Recovering the Garden” & Myths from
Sproul, pp. 1-198
Week
5: READ: Dundes, 1-40 & Sproul, pp. 199-286
Watch The Fast Runner
DUE: Response to Myth
Week
6 – Nature and Theory Connections
READ:
Sproul 287-368, Dundes, 72-136
Week
7 – More Theory of Myth
READ:
Dundes, 193-206, 256-314 & Lévi-Strauss (all)
Week
8 – Shift into Contemporary Idiom
READ:
from Reader: Schrempp, “David Bidney and the People of Truth,” Slater,
“Myths fo the Rain Forest/The Rain Forest as Myth,” Nagy, “Can Myth Be
Saved?”
WATCH:
The Whale Rider
Week
9 – Lives Connected to Tradition and Nature
READ:
Life Lived Like a Story
DUE: FIRST ESSAY (on myth & theory)
Weeks
10&11 – Modern Nature Castatrophes
READ:
On environmental issues from Reader: White, “The Historical Roots of Our
Ecologic Crisis,” Chernousenko, “Buried Alive,” The Five Worst
Environmental…,” “The Tennessee Tree Massacre,” “Unnatural Nature,”
“The Trouble with Wilderness; or Getting Back to the Wrong Nature,” plus
reports from students on crises found in the news, & Warner, “Beautiful
Beasts”
WATCH:
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Week
12 – More on Nature in the 21st century & Human Nature
READ:
2/3 Kingsolver
Week
13 – Finish Kinsolver
WATCH:
Sex & Lucia
Week
14: Trickster
READ:
Trickster stories (in Reader) & Begin Reading King novel
Week
15: More on theory of genetics and human potential
READ:
Finish King & articles (from reader), “reinventing Eden: Western Culture
as a Recovery Narrative” (& albums) & “”Nature’s Children”
DUE:
FINAL ESSAY (on theory & story)