October 13, 2004
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Daydreams.
Driving home from work today, I started daydreaming about how lovely it would be to get to teach a Lit class. Actually, how great would it be to teach for one academic year. For sure, I would teach two courses…
The first quarter would be books with Biblical allusions. For the first two weeks, we would read and discuss the most well-known and commonly alluded to stories in the Bible. Then there would be four books after that. One per two weeks with a deeper discussion about the stories they are alluding to and its significance. Discussion will also include whether the author is embracing or criticizing Biblical themes and values.
Some possible books that would be on the syllabus:
- Tale of Two Cities
-Lord of the Flies
-The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
-Brave New World
-East of Eden.
~ I know there’s more, but I can’t think of it right now… (this is a daydream, so not all the details worked out yet.)The first quarter would also include learning how to write better papers.
The second quarter would be a class on Jane Austen. (This, by the way, is how the whole daydream started…). We would do all of her 6 major works in the 10 weeks.
Papers would include:
- compare and contrast similar themes and elements from the different novels
- what is the purpose of the false heroes in the novels and why does austen repeatedly use them?
- what is the role of class, money and marriage on life in the 19th century?
- how does Austen use humor/sarcasm to convey her sharp criticism of 19th century society?
- compare northanger abbey to one of the other novels (why/how is it so different?)
- compare the movie version and the book. what is similar or different? do the omissions add or subtract to the story? which themes are carried through both mediums?
- if one of the characters from one book spoke to another, what would they say? (i.e. what would elizabeth bennet say to marianne dashwood? how about eleanor dashwood to maria bertram? perhaps one of the suave false heroes could teach mr. darcy how to woo a woman…haha)I would definitely encourage more creative analysis during the second quarter – but only after students have mastered the art of writing well (in the first quarter).
There would be more specific paper topics for each of the major works (I won’t bore you with that now).
Third Quarter… TBA.
Ok, who wants to sign up???
Comments (14)
LOTR!!! and i’d take it… glad you had a blessed time overseas!
aww mary ann! i love that we share a love for jane austen’s works. XD *huggles* i hope you’re doing well!
and dude. totally sign me up for this class. ^_~
yeah, i debated abt LOTR… possibly i would, but there’s already too much on the topic; i’d like people to expand their reading horizons.
is that why we’re watching pride and prejudice at colleen’s?? =) i’ll see you tonight. love ya
you are watching pride and prejudice again?
wow, you ARE a huge Austen fan.
first qtr would be GREAT. 2nd… ugh… i’d take ochem over that anyday!
i still haven’t read pride and prejudice. i guess i will now. yay, teacher, mary ann! ;)
sign me up!! that sounds so interesting… but that’s a lot of books to read in 10 weeks!
Don’t forget about the grading…. BLECH!!!!
Don’t wish too hard to teach a lit class. I’ve been there…. …*sigh*… and wish I could go back, still.
I’m a masochist.
But it’s the kiddies that are great!
In His grace,
Vic.
Jane Eyre of course
Hi Mary Ann. Wow sounds like a great course. Janet and I would like to sign up.
hee hee hee. You should really do it. For reals. It would be a God inspiring class.
wow, didn’t know i’d get such a response! cool. let’s find a place that will let me teach these classes.
haha. thanks for your support, guys. maybe one day…???
P n P again?!?! you definitely got your money’s worth for those dvds! i really enjoyed that movie…still haven’t read it yet though…will start soon:0)
I’ll take it…but I cant promise you I’ll stay awake in class =P.