Instructor:  Anita Mannur

Course Description:

This course is an intensive study of three literary genres: myth, folktale and children’s literature. Designed to make us think critically about the features of each genre, and subdivisions within each genre, this course aims to understand how each "text" constructs meaning. What are the conventions of each genre, and more importantly, how and why do authors subvert these categories? In our study of myth, folktale and children’s literature, we will insist on thinking "critically" about each text (film, story, novel etc) to develop a greater appreciation for the status of each as a literary text. We will thus focus less on thinking about "intended" audiences, and focus more on developing our analytic reading skills. In addition to reading a variety of texts from North America, Europe, Asia and Africa, we will read and discuss selected critical essays that pertain to the topic of discussion.

NOTE: WE WILL INSIST ON SEPARATING FOLKTALE AND MYTH FROM CHILDREN’S LITERATURE. TOO OFTEN, THE ASSUMPTION IS (INCORRECTLY) MADE THAT TEXTS IN THESE THREE GENRES ARE LINKED BY THE "FACT" THAT THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR CHILDREN.

APPROACHES TO MATERIALS.

Because we are dealing with a wide range of material that can be transmitted in multiple ways, part of our task in this course will be to participate in different forms of textual consumption. In most cases, texts will be read at home, but in some cases, some material will be read aloud in class to emphasize the orality of the tales. You are all encouraged to participate in this!

REQUIRED TEXTS

Farewell to Manzanar -- Jeanne Houston

Charlotte’s Web -- E. B. White

Forever -- Judy Blume

Ramayana -- R.K. Narayan

Favorite Folktales -- Ed. Joanna Cole

World of Myth -- Ed. David Adams Leeming

Haroun and the Sea of Stories -- Salman Rushdie

COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE.

July 18: Introduction to course.

July 19: Heroic figures in myth.

READING ASSIGNMENT

From World of Myth: Pages 221 - 234, 237-239, 244-248, 262 - 283, 307 - 308, 347 -348

WEEK TWO.

July 24: Heroic Valor and Families: A Case Study

READING ASSIGNMENT: Ramayana

July 25: Myth in Contemporary Culture.

Film in class. Fire (Dir. Deepa Mehta)

July 26: Where did it all begin? Creation Stories.

READING ASSIGNMENT: From World of Myth: Pages 15 -41.

From Best-Loved Folktales: "How Frog Lost His Tail," (626 - 627)

"Why There Are No Tigers in Borneo" (602 -605), "How Platypuses Came

to Australia" (605 - 607),"Why the Sea is Salt"(354 - 357), "How Spider

Obtained the Sun God’s Stories" (620 - 623), "Why the Parrot Repeats

Man’s Words" (563 - 565). "The Rubber Man" (627 - 630), "The Origin of

Death" (630 -632) , "Man Chooses Death" (632)

WEEK THREE.

July 31: Dealing with the Unspeakable: Difficult Issues in Folktales.

READING ASSIGNMENT: ["How Some Children Played at Slaughtering",

"Bluebeard", "The Juniper Tree", "How an Unborn Child Avenged the

Death of its Mother", "The Adventures of Mrile", "Godfather Death", "The

Singing Bone", "All Fur" ] XEROXES WILL BE PROVIDED IN CLASS.

Aug 1: Re-writings of myth/ folktale: Alternative perspectives.

READING ASSIGNMENT:("House of Asterion", "Medusa", "Jack and the

Beanstalk", "Musee des Beaux Arts") XEROXES WILL BE PROVIDED IN

CLASS

Aug 2: "What’s the Use of Stories that Aren’t Even True?": The

Importance of Story Telling.

READING ASSIGNMENT: Haroun and the Sea of Stories

WEEK FOUR

Aug 7: Where’s My Prince? Women in Folktales.

READING ASSIGNMENT: from Best-Loved Folktales "Cinderella" (3-8),

"Ashenputtel" (68 -75), "Rapunzel" (75 - 78), "The Lost Woman" (704 -

711), "The Indian Cinderella" (694 - 696), "Mother Holle" (134 - 136),

(EXTRA XEROXES ALSO PROVIDED)

Aug 8: Damsels in Distress? Not quite!

Film: Ever After (discussion of film held over till following day).

Aug 9: Disneyfying Grimm.

Film: Cinderella

WEEK FIVE

Aug 14: Reading Picture books.

No reading, but please bring in a picture book for discussion.

Aug 15: Animals as a Vehicle for Social Criticism

READING ASSIGNMENT: Charlotte’s Web

Aug 16: Humanizing History: The Japanese American Internment.

READING ASSIGNMENT: Farewell to Manzanar

WEEK SIX.

Aug 21: Coming of Age in Diaspora

READING ASSIGNMENT: "Summer of My Korean Soldier", "East

End at Your Feet", "KBW", "Dear Manju"[XEROXES WILL BE PROVIDED IN CLASS]

Aug 22: Sexuality in Young Adult Fiction.

READING ASSIGNMENT: Forever

Aug 23: FINAL EXAM. No make ups allowed without prior permission, and

supporting documentation.
 
 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

10%: IN CLASS WRITING ASSIGNMENTS.

30%: 2 SHORT PAPERS (15% EA.) Extensions not granted unless request is

made at least 48 hrs in advance. No e-mail submissions accepted.

20%: 1 ORAL REPORT: READING HABITS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS.

20%: FINAL EXAM, or 10 page RESEARCH PAPER ON ADDITIONAL READINGS (DETAILS TO FOLLOW)

20%: CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE: Participating in classroom discussion is not optional. Just as it is important for you to develop good writing skills, it is also important to develop good oral communication skills. If you are shy or hesitant to talk in front of a large group, I strongly encourage you to talk to me and we can work on strategies to help you contribute more to class. Remember: you can learn as much from each other as you can from your instructor. You will not be able to pass this part of the course if you never speak in class.

POLICY ON ATTENDANCE. Because of the "compressed" nature of Summer Session courses, it is important that you make every effort to attend all classes. You will be allowed ONE un-excused absence. Absences due to sickness etc. must be accompanied with a doctor’s note. NO EXCEPTIONS.
 
 

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.