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What makes fairy tales, folktales, and myths so appealing? Is it the deep structure of their story lines: quests that require leaving home, battles with monsters, moments of creation? Is it the questions they answer: what are good and right choices, how do I fit in this world, how do I learn whom to trust and to love? Is it related to the manner of their telling: their intention to be heard rather than read, their appeal to the imagination, their ability to evoke visceral responses? In this class, we will study versions of a number of narratives, ranging from classics such as Homer's ODYSSEY and SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, to magical tales such as Snow White that are ostensibly for children but continue to appeal to adult movie goers. We will also study several theoretical answers to the above questions in order to develop a common vocabulary and conceptual framework for our discussion. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 121.
What makes fairy tales, folktales, and myths so appealing? Is it the deep structure of their story lines: quests that require leaving home, battles with monsters, moments of creation? Is it the questions they answer: what are good and right choices, how do I fit in this world, how do I learn whom to trust and to love? Is it related to the manner of their telling: their intention to be heard rather than read, their appeal to the imagination, their ability to evoke visceral responses? In this class, we will study versions of a number of narratives, ranging from classics such as Homer's ODYSSEY and SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, to magical tales such as Snow White that are ostensibly for children but continue to appeal to adult movie goers. We will study several theoretical answers to the above questions in order to develop a common vocabulary and conceptual framework for our discussions. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 15 pages of formal revised writing. Prerequisite: ENGL 121.
This course focuses on ideas and practices central to advanced work in the field of language and literature. In addition to refining students' facility with critical concepts and scholarly methodology, this course will explore a number of key questions for current work in the discipline: How do we define such concepts as literacy, literature, and interpretation? How do we understand the relationship between reader, writer, and text? How do such factors as gender, culture, and history affect our understanding of literature and of ourselves as writers and readers? Prerequisites: ENGL 201, 202, 203, or 204; at least two courses in ENGL at or beyond ENGL 211
Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 12 pages of formal revised writing.
Students will read and write about literary texts critically and closely. The course emphasizes recursive reading and writing processes that encourage students to discover, explain, question and clarify ideas. To this end, students will study a variety of genres as well as terms and concepts helpful to close analysis of those genres. They will practice various forms of writing for specific audiences and purposes. Students will reflect on and develop critical awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses as readers and writers. The writing load for this course is a minimum of 12 pages of formal revised writing.
Academic History
M.A., Ph.D., University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) B.A., University of California (Berkeley) At St. Thomas since 1984
Expertise/Specialties
Literature by Women Mythology Classical Literature Multicultural Literature