Course Syllabus

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Education

 

COURSE CODE  : LIT 220 (3 units)                                                                                    COURSE TITLE   : WORLD LITERATURE

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course gives an overview of the world's language and great literary works from the ancient classical times of the Greeks and the Romans, the modern periods to the present times. The emphasis in on Europe and America, although coverage is also given of Middle East, China and Japan.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

              At the end of the semester, the students are expected to appreciate Filipino Literacy works as a form of art- an impression  of Filipino history and culture during a certain period. 

             Through critical reading and discussion of the subject matter, the students are expected to: 1) see the best means of making the impression more effective in paving the way of individual advancement and cultural development: 2) appropriate literacy form for a particular matter: 3) theorize on the right structure for a literacy piece: and 4) apply the relevant and correct stylistic usage of various  literary activities to business form and personal responsibilities.

 

COURSE OUTLINE:

      Section

A. Introduction

    1. The world's Languages

          *Language Families

          *Language Types

          *General Features of Languages

    2.The Story of English

         *Old English

         *Middle English

         *Modern English

         *English in the World

 

B. The Making of Myths

       1. Mesopotamian Myth

       2. The old Testament

       3. Myths of Ancient Egypt

       4. Hindu Myths of India

       5. Greek Myth

 

C. Classical Literature

      1. Early Greek Literature

      2. The Golden Age of Athens

      3. The Hellenistic Age

      4. Greece Under the Romans

      5. Early Roman Literature

      6. The Golden Age of Rome

      7. Glory and Decadence

 

D. Medieval Epic and Romance

     1. Epics of the Tentonic North

     2. The World of Romance

     3. Arthurian Romance

     4. Italy and Dante Alighieri

     5. The Great Christian Epic Paradise Lost (1667)

 

E. Medieval Tales

     1. The Canterbury Tales

     2. Alliterative Religious Poetry

     3. Mystery Plays

     4.Morality Plays

     5. Allegories

     6. Fables

     7. The Heritage of Medieval Tales

 

F. Renaissance Theatre

    1. The New Theatres

    2. Spanish Drama

    3. The New Drama

    4. William Shakespeare

    5. Citizen Comedy

    6. Jacobean Tragedy

    7. Court Theatre

 

G. Renaissance Poetry

     1. The Cultural Background

     2. Italy

     3. France

     4. England

     5. The Metaphysical Poets

 

H. Classical in Literature

    1. The French Classical Theatre

    2. English Restoration  Drama

    3. The Novel in France

 

I. The Beginning of the Novel

    1. the picaresque Novel

    2. The Rise of the English Novel

    3. The Novel in France

 

J. Realism and Naturalism

    1. French Fiction

    2. The Russians

    3. The German Realists

    4. Naturalism

 

K. The Literature of Asia

    1. Arabic Literature

    2. Persian Literature

    3. Chinese Literature

    4. Japanese Literature

 

L. Symbolism, Aestheticism and Modernism

    1. The Beauty of Evil

    2. Pure Poetry

    3. Symbolism in Paris

    4. Dissimilar Styles of Modernism

    5. The Modernist Novel

    6. Beyond Personal Vision

 

M. Modern poetry in English

    1. W.B. Yeast and Modern Irish Poetry

    2. W.H. Auden and the Poetry of the Thirties

    3. Thomas Hardy and D.H. Lawrence

    4. Postwar British Poetry

 

N. Popular Literature

    1. Detective Stories

    2. Spy Novels and Thrillers

    3. Horror and Ghost stories

    4. Science Fiction

    5. Fantasy

    6. Romance

    7. Bestsellers

 

O. Literary Theory And Literary Criticism

   1. French Biographical and Historical criticism

   2. Modern Textual Criticism

   3. From Linguistics to Structuralism

   4. The Post-Structuralist Conclusion

 

SUGGESTED METHODOLOGY OF TEACHING INSTRUCTION

 

    1. Lecture

    2. Focused Discussion

    3. Library Research ( Group and individual)

    4. Students Discussion ( By Groups)

    5. Literary Review and Analysis

  

BASIS FOR EVALUATION

     1. Class Recitation

     2. Critical Reading and Analysis Paper

     3. Short Quizzes and Long Tests

     4. Group/Individual Presentation

     5. Mid-term Exam and Individual Term Paper or Critical Paper

 

REFERENCES

The Language of Literature (1979) by David Clarke Edinburgh, EH: Holmes McDougall.

The Guinness Encyclopedia (1995 Edition)

Additional Reading Materials to be provided by the professor.

 

 

Prepared by:

 

Tomas V. Masaganda, PhD