Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - ENGL 115W D900

Literature and Culture (3)

Class Number: 3323

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Surrey

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:

Drama and "hot cognition"

This course will introduce students to questions around decision making, choices and agency via the study of two classical plays and two early modern plays: Oedipus, Antigone, Macbeth, Hamlet.

We will pay special attention to biases, emotions, and motivated reasoning (e.g. strong ambition, or hatred, love and fear etc.). We will refer to these as "hot cognition." We will cover topics like agency, feminism, power, and cultural change/escaping the past.

Some basic literary / historical / philosophical material will be introduced, particularly in the lectures, but no prior knowledge of these will be presupposed. You are merely required to be attentive and curious.   

You must use the Hackett edition of Sophocles, which contains the two Sophocles texts we'll need for the course. I have selected the No Fear editions of the Shakespeare texts. These print the plays on one page and an accurate, up-to-date paraphrase on the facing page. You will be required to read the original play texts, and use them for the papers, but the paraphrases are helpful. Hamlet is a long but worthwhile play and we'll go over it carefully.

There will be a syllabus supplied in week one, and as the course is a W course, you'll have to do some revision work. Canvas Announcements will be used. Attendance is important, so plan your semester accordingly. Approximately one third of the final exam will be based on Lecture material.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

* Learn about classical and early modern drama, and the contemporary topics of decision making, choice and agency

* Become a better reader of rich and moving literary works

* Become a better writer: structure essays better; use the details of the texts to support arguments; and formulate strong thesis statements.

* Enjoy the experience of having your emotions activated by these works

Grading

  • Tutorial participation and Lecture/Tutorial attendance 20%
  • 1 single page in-class writing assignment 5%
  • Midterm Essay: 5 pages (with revision) 25%
  • Final Essay: 5 pages 25%
  • Final Exam 25%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:



 

REQUIRED READING:

Sophocles Theban Plays, translated with an introduction and notes by Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff. Hackett Publishing Company, 2003.

(Note: this edition contains three plays, two of which -- Oedipus and Antigone -- we will read.)

You may use either the paperback or the electronic edition of this text.
ISBN: 978-0872205857

Shakespeare, Macbeth. No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe, 2020.
ISBN: 978-1411479678

Shakespeare, Hamlet. No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe, 2020.
ISBN: 978-1411479647

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.