Course Description

This course gives first-year NCHU English majors the opportunity to explore some of the most enduring works of Western Literature from the Bible stories to Homer’s epic poems. Parrticipants are not expected to read these texts in their entirety but selectively and critically. It is designed to introduce the major concerns and conventions of western literary canon whilst encouraging students to think about what makes a literary text ‘classic’ and how it is still relevant to modern readers.

Course Objectives

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Become familiar with some of the major authors and issues of Western Literature
2. Understand both Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian traditions and literary genres  
3. Enhance their reading skills and critical thinking through complex literary texts.

(4) Develop an understanding of the formal, stylistic, and aesthetic qualities of literary texts

Grades

20% class participation                 

5 % Group Presentation   

10% attendance            

65% exams                   (quizzes 15%, 25% Midterm, 25% Final)

Bonus Written Assignment (0-5 points added to your final grade)

You have to print out and hand in a reflective essay (250-400 words) by the end of the semester. The topic of your essay is up to you. You can write up your oral report, trace your journey of learning in this course, analyze a short literary passage that interests you or simply find out more about the life of author or a topic.