IMPORTANT DATES:
December 1 Discuss: Bhabha, Lessing, and Achebe
December 4 Hybrid Assignment: Read Kincaid’s “Girl” (blog) and write a 250-word blog post from the point of view of the young girl.
December 8 Words Without Borders
December 9-10;14; 16-17 Meet to Discuss Final Project and paper revisions
December 27 Final Projects and Paper revisions Due
Final Project: Words Without Borders, scholarly edition
For your final project, we will be working with the Words Without Borders Campus program. WWB is a literary magazine which translates contemporary global literature to make it accessible to a wider audience. For this project you will select one work of literature from the website: http://www.wwb-campus.org/find/ and create a “scholarly edition.” A scholarly edition is a format that you are well used to: It packages literature for readers to engage with it as intellectual discourse by providing background information, interpretive explanation, and suggestions for further academic reading. These scholarly editions help students and professors become familiar with the works of literature by explaining thematic significance and context. Because the works in WWB are so new, they often have not yet received this kind of scholarly attention…until you!
Steps:
- Select a work of literature from the website above. You may choose any of the pieces on the site, except for the three works we will discuss in class on 12/8. It can be non-fiction, fiction, poetry, or graphic novel.
- Write a 4-page Introduction to the text, including:
- Biographical information on the author
- Historical/regional context (e.g. for a piece on Egypt you should mention how the work relates to the events of the Arab Spring)
- Your interpretation of the piece.
- Annotation of the text:
- Copy and paste the text into Microsoft Word
- Use the Comments function under the Review tab to include marginal comments
- Your marginal comments should:
- Explain key moments of the text that support your interpretation
- Define a foreign word, identify a geographic place, or explain a regional custom
- Point out literary terms or devices that we have studied in class (see attached list)
- Bibliography
- Include a bibliography of at least 5 sources. For each write a brief (2-3 sentences) note that explains its benefit a reader. NOTE: This can be (and should be) the same sources you used to help write your introduction. These sources can include:
- Biographical information on the author
- Reviews of the text, or other works by the author
- Include a bibliography of at least 5 sources. For each write a brief (2-3 sentences) note that explains its benefit a reader. NOTE: This can be (and should be) the same sources you used to help write your introduction. These sources can include:
- Historical accounts or news pieces that give context to the region and its current global state.
Extra Credit: Helen Oliver Adelson’s “Ghosts” at the Carlton Arms Hotel (160 E 25th Street); 1-6pm daily. 250 word response due by 11/25
New Syllabus:
November 17 Discuss Mrs. Dalloway
November 24 Discuss Lessing, “Old Chief Mshlanga” (blog); Achebe, “Chike’s School Days” (blog); Bhabha, “Signs Taken for Wonders” (blog). Come to class with 2 questions about the Bhabha text.
December 1 Discuss Devi, “Giribala” (blog); Kincaid, “Girl” (blog)
December 4 Hybrid Assignment: Worlds Without Borders project (P)
December 8 Discuss Diaz, “Drown” (blog); Words Without Borders
December 9-11 Meet to Discuss Final Project
December 21 Final Project Due
Frankenstein 1931 VS. Frankenstein
The film was quite different from the book. I noticed that Victor’s name was changed to Henry. Also in the film he has a hunchbacked assistant named Fritz when in the book he doesn’t have an assistant at all. Another major difference that strands out the most is when in the movie Henry (book’s Victor) creates the monster he is kind of proud and take it as his big accomplishment. In the film Elizabeth and Victor come to Henry’s laboratory that’s when they see frankenstein for the first time. Also the little girl is being murdered at the wedding.
In the book the main guy’s name is Victor and he, as I said before, doesn’t have an assistant but he does have a close friend who helps him to go through the huge “failure” of his. Elizabeth and his dad, all his family do not communicate other besides sending each other letters, and when Victor was so deeply indulged in his experiment he wouldn’t write to them at all which got everyone worried. Victor was deeply upset at his creature. He aimed to create a human being but instead he created a yellow-eyed, pearlwhite teeth monster. Also in the book the youngest brother gets murdered and Elizabeth is blaming it on herself.
While reading the book I got a complete different image of Victor then from when I saw the film. In the book he was one of those good people, really passionate about science and his project; who also seemed to me very kind and a peaceful person it really became clear when the monster became alive and he was was terrified of what he’s created unlike that guy in the film when he was amazed and happy by what has come out.
Journey to Baruch
Rosario’s daily routine to school is nothing more than an ordinary day. From waking up at 5:25 am, getting herself ready she stops to wonder halfway what could be different today from the rest of the days. Rosario begins to plan her day, knowingly she had class at 7:25 and afterwards, a day to herself. It is now 6:00 and her time is ticking. Rosario is in no rush, but she does know that she has to start making her way out before she is late. It’s a nice, breezy morning just to her liking. Her hair flowing in the air, her steps getting louder, she knows she has to make it on time before her train leaves her. As she rushes straight to Church Ave station to catch the Q, she walks down the stairs and pauses to see Hazel, a long time friend whom she hadn’t seen in years. As Rosario, stops and stares, she steps quickly into the Q train and is now on her way to school. Hopefully making it on time. Rosario blankly stares out the window as the train passes by the Manhattan Bridge and she begins to think to herself whether she is prepared for today’s class or not. It is now 7:03 and she knows that she has time. While almost going back underground she takes one good look at the Freedom Tower and smirks. This is Rosario’s city and no one could tell her otherwise. Suddenly, she has made it 14th street Union Square. Rosario is flying past everyone making her way to the 6 train now. As she is patiently waiting for her train, the screen shows 6 Parkchester – 3 mins. It is now 7:12. Finally what seemed forever to Rosario, her train has arrived. Luckily, she is one stop away from her destination. Rosario quickly gets onto the train with the rest of the mob who are pushing one another. She holds on tight and is soon off. 23rd street is her last stop. Rosario gets off, making her way up the stairs towards Lexington Ave and 24th. It is now 7:20. Rosario has made it to Baruch just on time and still even has time to continue to plan the rest of her day as she originally hoped for.