Department of English
Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University


2202232 Introduction to the Study of Fiction

Puckpan Tipayamontri
BRK 1130
218-4728
puckpan.t@chula.ac.th
Office Hours: M 5 - 6 p.m., W 12-2 and by appointment

Group 3
Mon 10 - 12 (BRK 314)
Wed 8 - 9 (BRK 314)

Outline of course:

Reading List


Syllabus
You can download a copy of the group syllabus here: Word 97 file (33K).
You can also take a look at the 1998 syllabus on a previous version of this homepage here.

Class Schedule for the next few weeks:
M 7/17 Buddhist Lent (no classes)
  • Read Enduring Love chapters 14-19
W 7/19
  • Short paper #2 due (short story + analytical essay)
  • Symbolism, imagery, irony, setting
  • Read excerpt from Toni Morrison's "Unspeakable Things Unspoken: The Afro-American Presence in American Literature" p. 20-21, 31-33
  • Read Enduring Love chapters 20-21
* Midterm week*
M 7/24
  • Midterm: Test I and II
  • Finish Enduring Love
W 7/26 Midterm week (no classes)
M 7/31
  • Symbolism, imagery, irony, setting: "The Japanese Quince"
  • Reading response for "The Japanese Quince" due
W 8/2 Symbolism, imagery, irony, setting: "The Japanese Quince"
M 8/7
  • Short paper #3 due
  • Theme
W 8/9 Theme
M 8/14 Mother's Day Observed (no classes)


Requirements and Expectations

Reading Responses

Students are expected to keep a journal and hand in a reading response every week either by e-mail or on paper. Reading responses must be handed in before class or at the beginning of the class on which it is due. You should think of the reading response as an attempt to explain, discuss or comment on a question that you pose about the reading. Avoid simple questions or those that seem easy to answer, like factual questions. I don't expect more than half a page of written or typed reading responses but these should be well thought out. Quality is more important than quantity.
 

Attendance and Participation

Discussion of the texts will be a big part of this class and students are encouraged to express their opinions, share observations and ask questions. This is an important way to learn and increase your understanding about the readings. Use this opportunity in class to expand your perspectives!


Further Reading
(I've given the call number for those available at Chula libraries in parentheses after each entry.)

Guth, Hans P. and Gabriele L. Rico. Discovering Fiction. New Jersey: A Blair Press Book,1993.

DiYanni, Robert. Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994.
    (Arts PN49 D622L)

Forster, E. M. Aspects of the Novel.  Middlesex: Penguin, 1970.
    (Arts PN3353 F733A)

Kennedy, X.J. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, 4th ed. Illinois: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1987.
    (CL 808 K36L 1983)

Hirschberg, Stuart. The Many Worlds of Literature. New York: Macmillan, 1994.
    (Arts PN6014 H669M)

Hurt, James. Literature: A Contemporary Introduction.  New York: Macmillan, 1994.
    (Arts PN6014 L776H)

Gillespie, Sheena, Terezinha Fonseca and Carol Sanger. Literature Across Cultures. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1994.

Bruton, Anthony and Angeles Broca. Active reading. Surrey: Nelson, 1993.
    (Lang 428.43 B913A)

Fiction 50: An Introduction to the Short Story. Compiled by James H. Pickering.New York: Macmillan, 1993.
    (Arts PN6120.2 F448P)

Sage, Howard. Fictional flights: An Anthology of Short Stories for Non-native Speakers of English. Boston: Heinle&Heinle, 1993.
    (Lang 428.433 S129F)


Relevant Websites

Literary Resources on the Net

Online Literature Resources


Information on Authors and Works



Announcements
The Midterm
Midterm consists of two tests, an hour each.  They will be held during class time on Monday,  July 24, 2000.  No classes will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2000. Section Sign-up
A section sign-up sheet is posted on my office door for people to put in their names under the section of their preference.  Choose the section to which you would like to transfer after August 9, 2000 when I will be leaving for the States.

The Final
The final is cummulative.  It will include all the short stories in the packet we have read and discussed in class (except "Flowers for Algernon)  and all the elements of fiction as well.  If you have any ideas or questions you'd like to discuss about any of the readings, you can drop by my office during office hours or make an appointment or e-mail.

Reading Responses
You may write reading responses as often as you wish.  You can e-mail me or write on paper and put it on my desk.  I am always willing to discuss your ideas or questions about the reading or about the course.  Remember, I do not expect more than half a page for your reading responses.



Exploring Ideas
Symbolism
An interesting exercise that you can do on symbolism is to think of a symbol (a fairly common one will probably work best).  Then list your ideas of what it means to you or can mean in general beyond its apparent meaning.  Then go to the online Dictionary of Symbolism, find the word and check to see what other people have thought about the same symbol.  How much of your/their associations is personal?  How much is cultural?



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