ENGH 203: Western Literary Tradition

ENGH 203-001: Western Literary Traditions I
(Spring 2018)

01:30 PM to 02:45 PM TR

Section Information for Spring 2018

ENGH 203 - 001: Western Literary Traditions I

"This course offers a survey of some of the major genres, authors, and texts of the 'Western Literary Tradition' -- that is, the literary canon that influenced the literary and philosophical developments of what is now called 'the West.'  But as we read some of the most influential works written in the period stretching from ancient Greece to The Renaissance, we will also devote time to studying the process of canon formation. Why do Renaissance writers look for their roots in the writings of ancient Greece, rather than ancient Mesopotamia?  Why do medieval authors portray themselves as the Roman rather than Greek literature? What does it mean to have a 'renaissance'? What gets preserved, and what gets left behind? By studying how canons are constructed and reconstructed over time, we will gain insight into how contemporary concerns shape our modern conception of the 'Western Literary Tradition.'"

Tags:

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Major works of Western literature in historical progression. Focuses on writers such as Homer, Sophocles, Euripides, Dante, Cervantes, Machiavelli, and Montaigne. Notes: All readings are in modern English. Courses build on reading and writing skills taught in ENGH 101. Offered by English. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core, Literature
Recommended Prerequisite: 3 credits of 100-level English.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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