Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2018 - ENGL 115W D100

Literature and Culture (3)

Class Number: 5458

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 7 – Aug 3, 2018: Tue, Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 9, 2018
    Thu, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An Introduction to the study of literature within the wider cultural field, with a focus on contemporary issues across genres and media. Students with credit for ENGL 105W may not take this course for further credit. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

Before and After the Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales Then and Now  

Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), and a baker and his wife. (A baker and his wife?) These are all characters in James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, a 1987 Broadway musical. This course will examine some of the earliest recorded versions of four famous European fairy tales, skip over the sanitized and Disneyfied versions from the twentieth century, and explore ways in which contemporary authors rewrite fairy tales in new contexts. This will lead up to a study of the stage musical Into the Woods. The revised fairy tales have audiences ranging from child to teen to adult and appear in short stories, novels, graphic novels, and films. However, they still carry cultural capital and still ask the same big questions the earlier ones did: e.g. What does it mean to be human? What would you be willing to do if you were starving? Would you kill someone to protect your own life?

As a Writing-Intensive course, this class uses formal and informal writing assignments to promote 1) understanding of the material and 2) skills in persuasive, logical, and well-supported argument. Students will revise one assignment for marks and give each other feedback on their writing.

Warning: Some course materials contain graphic violence and sexuality.
Note: Films will be available in the library, or students may self-source them.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course will help you learn to 
1) interpret literature and film, gathering and evaluating evidence, 
2) write persuasive arguments supported by evidence,  
3) write clearly and concisely, 
4) revise and proofread your writing, and 
5) give feedback to your peers in concise, specific, and helpful ways.

Grading

  • comparison assignment (c. 500-700 words) 15%
  • analysis essay (c. 1000-1200 words) 25%
  • two peer reviews of essay 5%
  • revision of essay (c. 1000-1500 words) 15%
  • participation 10%
  • final exam 30%

REQUIREMENTS:

Reading & Viewing List
"Little Red Riding Hood": Short works in Canvas, & Matthew Bright's Freeway (1996 DVD)    
"Cinderella": Short works in Canvas, & Marissa Meyer's Cinder (2012)  
"Rapunzel": Short works in Canvas, Shannon & Dean Hale's Rapunzel’s Revenge (2008), & Lauren Beukes & Bill Willingham's Fairest, vol. 2: The Hidden Kingdom (2013)
"Jack and the Beanstalk": Short works in Canvas, & Amy McNulty's Ballad of the Beanstalk (2017)  
Into the Woods, James Lapine & Stephen Sondheim (1987): 1999 DVD of the Broadway stage version, not the 2014 film by Rob Marshall

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Marissa Meyer, Cinder (2012)
ISBN: 978-0312641894

Shannon & Dean Hale, Rapunzel’s Revenge (2008) 
ISBN: 978-1599902883

Lauren Beukes & Bill Willingham, Fairest, vol. 2: The Hidden Kingdom (2013)
ISBN: 978-1401240219

Amy McNulty Ballad of the Beanstalk (2017)  
ISBN: 978-1927940853

Department Undergraduate Notes:

IMPORTANT NOTE Re 300 and 400 level courses: 75% of spaces in 300 level English courses, and 100% of spaces in 400 level English courses, are reserved for declared English Major, Minor, Extended Minor, Joint Major, and Honours students only, until open enrollment begins.

For all On-Campus Courses, please note the following:
- To receive credit for the course, students must complete all requirements.
- Tutorials/Seminars WILL be held the first week of classes.
- When choosing your schedule, remember to check "Show lab/tutorial sections" to see all Lecture/Seminar/Tutorial times required.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS