ENGL 2111

World Literature 1

World Literature I focuses on textual studies of the major genres of this period, epic and tragedy, how those genres influenced later literary works, and how they portray humanist issues throughout the Greek and Roman national literary traditions and beyond.

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ENGL 2111 demonstrates the continued relevance of ancient works in understanding ourselves as “humans.” Major works covered will include Gilgamesh, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and works by Sophocles, Euripides, and Ovid. Since any survey course has much more literature than one semester-long class can cover, we will attempt to cover only a few works in as much detail as time allows, rather than many works only cursorily.

Sections

Term	CRN	Class	Day and Time	Room
Fall 2023	82297	ENGL 2111.05	Online ⚠️	-
	82830	ENGL 2111.11	Online ⚠️	-
Summer 2023	50116	ENGL 2111.04	Online ⚠️	-
Spring 2023	20877	ENGL 2111.05	«Canceled»
	21895	ENGL 2111.01	Online ⚠️	-
	22512	ENGL 2111.13	Online ⚠️	-
Fall 2022	80506	ENGL 2111.03	MW 12:30-13:45	SOAL-216
	81312	ENGL 2111.05	Online ⚠️	-
	82063	ENGL 2111.18	Online ⚠️	-
Summer 2022	55542	ENGL 2111.07	Online ⚠️	-
Spring 2022	23909	ENGL 2111.05	MW 9:30-10:45	SoAL-206
	25264	ENGL 2111.01	Online ⚠️	D2L ➭
Fall 2021	83647	ENGL 2111.03	MW 11-12:15	SoAL-218
	83634	ENGL 2111.15	Online ⚠️	D2L ➭
Spring 2021	20503	ENGL 2111.21	Online ⚠️	D2L ➭
	21304	ENGL 2111.06	Online ⚠️ 2nd	D2L ➭
Fall 2020	80701	ENGL 2111.03	MW 11-12:15 (H-OL ⚠️)	TEB-231
	80702	ENGL 2111.04	TR 11-12:15 (H-OL ⚠️)	SoAL-222
Spring 2020	25677	ENGL 2111.11	MW 11-12:15	CoAS-210

Student Learning Outcomes

Students of any ENGL 2000-level literature survey (ENGL 2111, 2112, 2121, 2122, 2131, 2132, 2141 or 2142) will:

• interpret and critically analyze texts (MGA General Education Learning Goal C),
• communicate effectively, in a professional manner, in discussing or writing about works of literature in the given area/time period,
• acquire knowledge of genres, literary and historical periods, and at least implicitly, basic approaches to literary theory,
• engage in effective library research processes,
• appreciate how literary works reflect the aesthetic qualities and cultural values inherent in literary works.

Resources

• Epic Poetry: The Epic of Gilgamesh; Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey
• Greek Tragedy: Sophocles’ Oedipus the King; Euripides’ Medea
• Ovid’s Metamorphoses

Sample Exam Questions

1. Gilgamesh and the Homeric epics are concerned with periods of expansion: i.e., when peoples are struggling to build their nations, both literally and ideologically. Discuss similarities in these three works in what seems to be necessary in building a strong nation and national identity.
2. Discuss and illustrate the theme of hospitality and its importance to the social structure in the Odyssey.
3. Discuss the implications of Odysseus as narrator in Book 9-12 of the Odyssey.
4. In the Poetics, Aristotle cites Oedipus the King as exemplifying the best of tragedy. Discuss how Oedipus the King defines and illustrates what we know as tragedy.
5. Many have called Euripides an “iconoclast,” not in a literal sense, but suggesting that his work seems to break the conservative icons of his society; for example: tradition, hierarchy, belief, etc. Examine his iconoclasm citing specific instances from Medea.
6. Scholars frequently define an Ovidian concept of love as one that lives “close to the flesh,” suggesting that love in Ovid’s work is really just lust or desire. Discuss the implications of this view on those who love and those who are loved in at least three tales from The Metamorphoses.