ENGL 399 Outline 2011/12 Winter

COURSE NUMBER:

ENGL 399

COURSE TITLE:

Special Topics in English - 2011/12 Winter Margaret Atwood: A Voice From the Wilderness

NAME OF INSTRUCTOR:

Dr Tina Trigg

CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION:

credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A course on a topic of figure of special interest to a member of the English faculty and offered on a non-recurring basis.

Prerequisites: ENGL 204, 205

2011/12 Winter

Since her emergence in the 1960s as a startling new literary voice, Margaret Atwood has become a representative figure of contemporary Canadian society, developing an international reputation as a literary icon. While turning her hand to poetry, short and long fiction, essays, speeches, and cultural commentary, Atwood continues to turn an incisive critical eye to the world she inhabits. Her work overtly challenges the underpinnings of our society – gender relations, cultural stereotypes, capitalist ideologies, and social roles – while potentially revealing a deeply troubling lack of spiritual direction.

We will examine the criticisms inherent in selected poetry and prose, seeking to establish how a Christian worldview challenges and yet often confirms Atwood’s representation of Canadian society. Our goals will be to gain a broad understanding of a key Canadian literary figure and to assess her work from Christian worldview for its challenges, flaws, and influence. If Atwood is “a voice from the wilderness,” what is to come and how should we respond?

To achieve these goals, the course will combine lecture, discussion, participatory seminars, an in-class response essay, a major research paper, and a final exam. Both essays must be completed to qualify to write the final exam. All assigned readings are to be completed before the scheduled class(es) to allow for full course participation. Readings are posted on the syllabus and may be amended as required. Any changes will be announced in a preceding class and also posted on Moodle.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Lady Oracle (1976)
The Handmaid’s Tale (1985)
The Blind Assassin (2003)
and coursepack of short stories, poetry, and prose.

MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:

Response seminar	10%
In-class response paper	20%
Research paper	30%
Final Examination	40%

	100%

COURSE OUTLINE:

January

Thurs 6 What are we doing here? Introduction, notes on plagiarism, outline of course.

Tues 10 Various Atwoods: children’s literature (Bashful Bob and Doleful Dorinda), poetry (True Stories), and postmodern mythology (The Penelopiad)

Thurs 12 Genre-Crossing Prose Poetry: Good Bones (1991)

Tues 17 Good Bones

Wed 18 INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE – no classes

Thurs 19 INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE – no classes

Tues 24 -

Tues 26 Good Bones

Tues 31 Early Novel: Lady Oracle (1976)

February

Thurs 2 Lady Oracle

Tues 7 Lady Oracle

Thurs 9 IN-CLASS RESPONSE ESSAY (20%)

Tues 14 Short Fiction: “The Man from Mars,” Dancing Girls (1977)

Thurs 16 "Weight,” Wilderness Tips (1991)

Mon 20 to Fri 24 READING WEEK – no classes

Tues 28 “The Tent,” The Tent (2006) and HT film excerpts

March

Thurs 1 Dystopic Novel: The Handmaid’s Tale (1985)

Tues 6 The Handmaid’s Tale

Thurs 8 The Handmaid’s Tale

Tues 13 Prose: Preface and Introduction, Survival (1972)

Thurs 15 “Amnesty International: An Address,” Second Words (1981)

Tues 20 Introduction, Negotiating with theDead: A Writer on Writing (2002)

Thurs 22 Recent Novel: The Blind Assassin (2003)

Tues 27 The Blind Assassin

Thurs 29 The Blind Assassin RESEARCH ESSAYS DUE (30%)

April

Tues 3 Poetry selections: The Circle Game (1966)

Thurs 5 The Journals of Susanna Moodie (1970)

Fri 6 GOOD FRIDAY – no classes

Mon 9 EASTER MONDAY – no classes

Tues 10 Morning in the Burned House (1995)

Thurs 12 The Door (2007)

Tues 17 Last day of classes, Consultation period

Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.