Spring 2022 - HUM 202 D100

Great Texts in the Humanities (3)

Class Number: 7204

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 10 – Apr 11, 2022: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An intensive study of some of the major works which have had a formative influence on the structure and development of western thought. Reading and discussion of primary texts and the major themes which emerge from them will introduce students to essential philosophical, literary, social and religious themes of western civilization. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

The Grimms’ Fairytales

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s Kinder- und Hausmärchen, usually translated simply as Fairy Tales, emerged from a Romantic ferment of enthusiasm for the oral traditions and peasant folk-life that the Industrial Revolution was sweeping away. First published in 1812-15, the Grimms’ collection rapidly achieved the status it retains in popular estimation: as the gold standard among such folklore compilations; the richest, most accurate and scientifically prepared of the early printed documentations of traditional European storytelling.

The truth is that the Grimms’ informants were mostly not the illiterate countryfolk whom they wanted their readers to imagine. And the seeming timelessness of their versions of the tales is at odds with the brothers’ editorial practice. Their texts were continually revised from one edition to the next of their bestselling work, to reflect changes in the Grimms’ target audience as well as in their theories as to the tales’ origins and meaning.

Despite such misconceptions, the Grimms’ collection is a cultural treasure of the highest importance. Providing the main foundation for our most cherished popular continua of fairytale lore – for Rapunzel and Rumpelstiltskin, for Snow White and Red Riding Hood – their collection is, as noted in the UNESCO Memory of the World database, “like a concave mirror that captures a fairy tale tradition shaped by several cultures, compiles it in a new form, and reflects it in such a way that a new tradition emerges which subsequently unfolds with worldwide impact.”

Students in HUM 202 can look forward to a deep engagement with particular tales from the Grimms’ collection, in all their vitality and variation across time, space, and media. Our readings will be informed by the most influential perspectives afforded for understanding the tales’ evolution and meaning, by folklorists, literary critics, psychologists, and social historians.

Grading

  • Attendance and Participation 10%
  • Reading Quizzes 20%
  • Midterm 20%
  • Canvas Discussion Posts 20%
  • Research Paper 15%
  • Research Presentation 15%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. The Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm: The Complete First Edition. Translated and edited by Jack Zipes, Princeton UP, 2014.  ISBN 9780691173221 (print)   ASIN B00KUCTP5O (digital)

All other readings will be provided online.


Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/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

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2022

Teaching at SFU in spring 2022 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with safety plans in place.  Some courses will still be offered through remote methods, and if so, this will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the spring 2022 term.