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Political Science 230 Political Thought in Literature Fall, 1999
SYLLABUS This course is devoted to the study of political thought as embodied in a number of major novels, novellas, and plays. "Political" in this context is broadly defined to include the reciprocal relation between the various kinds of human character and ways of life and the variety of political regimes, rather than being limited solely to governmental institutions or the competition for public offices. The difficulty of the books we will be reading in this course - that is, the subtlety with which they are written and the density of their content - necessitates that the student read each of them more than once during the semester. It is very important that students complete each assignment before the date on which it is to be discussed. Only by doing this will you receive full benefit from the class meeting. Of course, students are encouraged to raise in class questions or problems that you find while reading. While class discussions may sometimes lag behind the schedule listed below, you should try to conform to that schedule to avoid an excessive burden late in the term. (Go Down, Moses, the last book assigned, is by far the longest single reading for the course.) Regular class attendance is expected. "Cutting" will seriously disadvantage the student on examinations and papers. Repeated non-attendance will be taken into account in determining final grades. Written Work: There will be two relatively short papers assigned on the readings which will require careful analysis rather than library research, plus a midterm and final examination. All late papers will be penalized one grade (e.g., C+ to C, B- to C+). Office Hours: My regular office hours will be 11:00-11:55 on Tuesdays and 12:00-1:15 on Mondays and Wednesdays. Students are encouraged to see me during these hours to discuss any questions relating to the course or the works we are studying. If you can't make it during the listed hours, speak to me after class to arrange another appointment, or just knock on my door and see whether I’m in (as I often am). My office is Rm. 307 Fenwick. TEXTS TO BE PURCHASED: (Editions ordered for this course in the bookstore are greatly preferred.) Aristophanes, Knights/Peace/Birds/Assemblywomen/Wealth
(Penguin)
Swift, Gulliver's Travels
(Riverside)
SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS: Weeks 1-2: The Comedy of Political Life Aristophanes,
Assemblywomen (in Knights, Peace …)
Shakespeare, Coriolanus
(Please note: there will be no class meeting on September -- on account of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. We will make up that class either on an evening later in the semester or else during the study period.) Week 9: The Modern
Project and Its Pitfalls
Hawthorne,
The Scarlet Letter
On Oedipus see Naomi's notes fr Witkin. Or Darkness? Henry V? Richard III? Democracy? Nostromo? Secret Agent? Scarlet Letter: ISBN
0451-525-221
On Nostromo,
see Robert Kaplan art. in Natl Int. Spr ’98.
[Consider Hry Adams’s
Democ. for next offerg; see Charlie Rubin ’97 APSA paper, in ofc file cab.
Also add Rich. III, Othello, &/ or Hry V; drop Merchant? See Cantor
papers on Hry V; art. in Interp. on Rich. III. Cut Antig. AND Eccl. since
Denise uses ‘em?]
Swift, Gulliver's Travels
(Riverside)
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