ENG412: Linguistic Approaches to Literature

Description and Objectives: This course examines some relationships between the nature and details of language and the nature and details of literature. At a basic level, we know, of course, that we must be speakers of English to read a poem or short story or to understand a play written in English, but having a conscious understanding of the nature and structure of English -- and of language in general -- gives us valuable tools for analyzing these literary works as well. The objectives of this course are for students not only to learn some of the vocabulary for talking about language in literature but also to begin to understand and develop some skill with using various types of linguistic knowledge to analyze literary works. In doing so, students will be building their ability to read and discuss linguistic works as well, laying a foundation for a continuing exploration of linguistics and/or linguistic approaches to literature. Students will also be developing an understanding of why it is so difficult to characterize "literary language" in a way that distinguishes it in a reliable way from other linguistic forms.

Required Materials:
Most of the reading for this course will be available on Blackboard, though some may be handed out in class or placed on reserve in Carrier Library. You will need to print out or photocopy Blackboard and reserve materials as they are made available because you will need your own hardcopy for in-class discussions.

Work and Grading: Class Participation (15%), Assignments (including original submissions of questions, comments, and responses(20%), Graded Questions/Comments/Responses (10%), Tests (30%), Final Project (25%). Except where noted, all work must be submitted on time and in-class unless I give you permission for late submission or for an alternative submission method. (Make requests in advance when at all possible and as soon as possible in other, extraordinary circumstances.) All work must be done independently except when permission is given for group assignments.

• Participation is an important part of this course, and a good participation grade requires advance preparation of materials to be covered and an overall willingness to ask and answer questions and to engage in other class activities.
• Part of the outside work for this course consists of recurring assignments for every assigned linguistics reading: you will type up one question about each reading and one comment related to it before the class discussion. We will use these questions and comments as part of our class discussion. After we finish discussing a linguistic analysis of a particular literary work or a particular kind of literary analysis, you will also be asked to write a one-page response to that analysis. Your questions, comments, and responses will be combined with other assignments to constitute your "assignments" work. If you make an acceptable effort on all parts of one of these assignments, you will get full credit for that assignment regardless of errors.
• In addition, your "Graded Questions/Comments/Responses" assessment will be based on your re-submission of some of your best work on the questions, comments, and responses. Details will be discussed in class.
• Tests will be on specific aspects of what we have covered and will be announced at least a week in advance of when they are given.
• The final written project will be based on topics you choose with me after the midpoint of the semester. The project paper will be due during finals week. Students will present preliminary project results in class at the end of the semester.

Note: As in all your courses, your work for this course is subject to the JMU Honor Code. If you have a question or uncertainty about how any aspect of the honor code relates to your work in this course, see me for clarification as soon as the issue arises.

Daily Schedule: The details of the schedule will be worked out as we choose topics and readings. Check for updates, especially if you miss a class. (Note that there is no class on Monday, January 19th, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day!)

"All disciplines depend on language, but two of them also have language as an object -- literary studies and linguistics. Their objectives are not the same -- but they are sufficiently similar to invite close cooperation." Wolfgang Klein

Look here for assignments (beyond those discussed specifically in "Work and Grading"):

• Due 1/14/09
• Due 1/26/09
• Due 2/2/09 (Response to Turner Chapter)
• Due 2/4/09 Attempt to use speech act theory to describe some aspects of the meaning of Anne Sexton's sonnet (posted in Blackboard documents).
• Due 2/11/09
• Due 2/23/09
• Due 3/4/09
• Due 3/16/09
• Due 3/23/09
In-class group assignments on summarizing parts of the Tendahl and Gibbs metaphor article

• Due 4/24/09 (Response to Metaphor readings/discussions)
  
• NOTE: Test #3, which is optional will be posted on Blackboard by the end of the day, Friday 4/24. If you choose to do it, your total test grade will be averaged over three tests instead of two. It will be due to me by no later than 1pm, Friday, May 1, which is the same as the deadline for submission of both on of your question and comment assignments and one of your responses for a grade. (See below.)
• Re-submission (for a grade) of what you consider your best question and comment is due to my office no later than 1pm Friday, May 1. (Of course, you can submit this in-class through the last time we meet.)
• (Re-)Submission (for a grade) of a possibly revised version of what you consider your best response is also due to my office no later than 1pm, Friday, May 1. (Of course, you can also submit this in-class through the last time we meet. :) )

DETAILS ABOUT THE GUIDELINES FOR THE FINAL PROJECT (as handed out and/or discussed in class) CAN BE FOUND HERE:
GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT PRESENTATIONS ARE HERE: FINAL PROJECT INFORMATION (paper and presentation)

ENG412, spring 2009, © JMU