Ege University, Faculty of Letters
English Language and Literature Department
381 – LITERATURE AND ENVIRONMENT I
English Language and Literature Department
381 – LITERATURE AND ENVIRONMENT I
2017-2018 Fall Semester
Önder Çetin
Wednesday, 14.30 – 17.00 (D.1203)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to the
relationship between literature and the physical environment.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
The objective of the course is to provide students with skills to understand and interpret the relationship between literature and the physical environment as a fast emerging literary theory, namely ecocriticism. In the face of global environmental crisis, ecology has become one of the most controversial issues disputed throughout many branches of the academic world, including literature. The aim of this course is to introduce prominent American nature writers and their works starting as early as 19th century, which helped to create awareness towards environment and conservation policies.
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION &
POLICIES
-It is a regulation of Ege University that students should attend at least 70% of the classes each semester.
-It is a regulation of Ege University that students should attend at least 70% of the classes each semester.
-Students
are expected to attend each class having read the assigned texts and be
prepared for class discussions.
-Cell
phones must be turned off/ in silent mode and under the desk during the class
hours.
-Latecomers
may come in without distracting the attention of their classmates.
EXAM INFORMATION & POLICIES
Mid-term and Final exams will be written exams in class.
COURSE GRADING
Students’ overall grades will be evaluated as follows:
- Mid-term %40
- Final 60%
(Class participation will be taken into
consideration while grading your exam papers)
REQUIRED TEXTS
Abbey, Edward. Desert Solitaire. New York: Simon&Schuster, 1968.
Abbey, Edward. Desert Solitaire. New York: Simon&Schuster, 1968.
Garrard, Greg. Ecocriticism: The New
Critical Idiom. Routledge: London, 2004.
Glotfelty, Cheryll and Harold Fromm, eds. Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology. Athens, GA: U
of Georgia Press, 1996.
Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County
Almanac. London: Oxford University Press, 1966.
Lopez, Barry. Arctic Dreams.
London: Picador, 1987.
Thoreau, Henry D. Walden.
Ed. J. Lyndon Shanly. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004.
Important Notice: The assigned texts for each lesson
are subject to change, and it is students’ responsibilty to follow the
changes.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1: 27 September 2017
Introduction and course organization.
Week 2: 4 October 2017
What is ecology? What is
ecocriticism?
Read: Glotfelty, Cheryll. “Introduction:
Literary Studies in an Age of Environmental Crisis.” Glotfelty & Fromm,
xv-xxxvii. (in Ecocriticism
Reader: Landmarks in Literary Ecology)
+ Glossary of Selected Terms (will be
provided)
Week 3: 11 October 2017
Read: Chapter 1 in Ecocriticism: The New Critical
Idiom by Greg Garrard
Discussion of short Stories: Read: “Adios Cordera!” (Goodbye
Lamb!) by Leopoldo Alas +
“White Heron” Sarah Orne Jewett
Week 4: 18 October 2017
Walden, Henry David Thoreau (Intro.+Economy+Where
I lived+Sounds)
Slovic, Scott. “Nature Writing and Environmental Psychology: The
Interiority of Outdoor Experience.” (in
Ecocriticism Reader: Landmarks in
Literary Ecology) 351-370.
Week 5: 25 October 2017
Walden, Henry David Thoreau (Solitude+The
Village+The Ponds+Conclusion)
Week 6: 1 November 2017
A Sand County Almanac, Aldo
Leopold
Week 7: 8 November 2017
A Sand County Almanac, Aldo
Leopold
Week 8: 15 November 2017
A Sand County Almanac, Aldo
Leopold
Week 9: 22 November 2017
Midterm
Week 10: 29 November 2017
Desert
Solitaire, Edward Abbey
Week 11: 6 December 2017
Desert Solitaire, Edward
Abbey
Week 12: 13 December 2017
Lopez, Barry. Arctic Dreams. (Prologue+Arktikos+Banks
Island)
Week 13: 20 December 2017
Lopez, Barry. Arctic Dreams. (Ice and Light+The
Country of the Mind+Epilogue)
Week 14: 29 December 2017
Wrap-up
