Major Works of Literature: The World Before Modernity (HUM 311)

2021 Spring
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Humanities(HUM)
3
6/5 ECTS (for students admitted in the 2013-14 Academic Year or following years)
Muhsin Yanar muhsinyanar@sabanciuniv.edu,
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English
Undergraduate
HUM201 HUM202 HUM207 SPS101 SPS102
Interactive lecture
Discussion based learning
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CONTENT

This course aims to explore one or more works of literature that have influenced their own times and continue to have an impact on our understanding of the world and its cultures. The course is designed to include critical reading and comparative analyses of selected works. The concepts of myth and archetypes in their various appearances are at the center of the discussions of this course. The emphasis is on imagination, feeling and expression in literature, with attention to cultural, social and political issues. Course work involves not only reading but also writing analytically and critically.

OBJECTIVE

This course is an in-depth reading of Homer's Odyssey. We aim to do a close reading on this long-enduring traditional story that has influenced their times and continues to have an impact on our understanding of the world and its cultures. We explore and discuss the nature and function of myth, how to read, receive and interpret myth, how they affected life within their times, and how they are related to our current time. We also dig out subtle codes, universal symbols, or patterns that speak about the creation of the universe, the
relationship between mortals and immortals, human nature, religion, family, death, and the like.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others through selected literary works.
  • Develop knowledge of theories, concepts, and research methods in humanities and social sciences through selected literary works.
  • Assess how global, national and regional developments affect society through selected literary works.
  • Know how to access and evaluate data from various sources of information through selected literary works.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES


1. Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others. 4

2. Understand different disciplines from natural and social sciences to mathematics and art, and develop interdisciplinary approaches in thinking and practice. 5

3. Think critically, follow innovations and developments in science and technology, demonstrate personal and organizational entrepreneurship and engage in life-long learning in various subjects; have the ability to continue to educate him/herself. 3

4. Communicate effectively in Turkish and English by oral, written, graphical and technological means. 3

5. Take individual and team responsibility, function effectively and respectively as an individual and a member or a leader of a team; and have the skills to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. 2


1. Possess sufficient knowledge of mathematics, science and program-specific engineering topics; use theoretical and applied knowledge of these areas in complex engineering problems.

2. Identify, define, formulate and solve complex engineering problems; choose and apply suitable analysis and modeling methods for this purpose.

3. Develop, choose and use modern techniques and tools that are needed for analysis and solution of complex problems faced in engineering applications; possess knowledge of standards used in engineering applications; use information technologies effectively.

4. Have the ability to design a complex system, process, instrument or a product under realistic constraints and conditions, with the goal of fulfilling specified needs; apply modern design techniques for this purpose.

5. Design and conduct experiments, collect data, analyze and interpret the results to investigate complex engineering problems or program-specific research areas.

6. Possess knowledge of business practices such as project management, risk management and change management; awareness on innovation; knowledge of sustainable development.

7. Possess knowledge of impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, health and societal context; knowledge of contemporary issues; awareness on legal outcomes of engineering solutions; knowledge of behavior according to ethical principles, understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.

8. Have the ability to write effective reports and comprehend written reports, prepare design and production reports, make effective presentations, and give and receive clear and intelligible instructions.


1. Develop knowledge of theories, concepts, and research methods in humanities and social sciences. 5

2. Assess how global, national and regional developments affect society. 5

3. Know how to access and evaluate data from various sources of information. 5

ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA

  Percentage (%)
Final 35
Midterm 25
Participation 20
Written Report 20

RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS

Readings

The Odyssey, Homer; translated by Robert Fagles. Penguin Classics. Deluxe Edition 1997.

Reading List:
1. Cavafy, C. P. "Ithaka"
2. Ovid. "Letter from Penelope to Ulysses"
3. Tennyson, Alfred Lord. "Lotus Eaters"
4. Tennyson, Alfred Lord. "Ulysses"
5. Hope, A. D. "Circe"
6. Hope, A. D. "The End of Journey"
7. Gluck, Louise. "Circe's Power"
8. Atwood, Margaret. "Siren Song"
9. Brodsky, Joseph. "Odysseus to Telemachus"
10.Finley, Moses. The World of Odysseus, NYRB Classics; 4th printing edition,
August10, 2002.
11.Fowler, Robert, and Robert Louis Fowler, eds. The Cambridge Companion to
Homer. Cambridge University Press, 2004.
12.Over, Raymond Van. Sun songs: creation myths from around the world. Mentor
book, 1980.