Kiefers World Lit Spring 2018

Tonight we Discussed and reviewed existentialism, Absurd-ism, Camus and The Stranger . Took a quiz on The Stranger. Announcements: Next class---April 2 will be a writing workshop week.  No formal class will be held but you are invited to email me with any questions for a cyber conference. Homework to bring to class on April 9: A full length draft of your analysis paper for an in-class writing workshop. The Stranger RRR should be submitted. A quiz will be given on The Death of Ivan Ilych following the class discussion.

The Stranger Albert Camus BIOGRAM Born in Mondovi, Algeria, in 1913, Albert Camus spent his early years in Algiers.  He completed a doctorate in philosophy, then worked at various jobs, establishing his own theatrical company in the 1930s.  At the age of 24 Camus became severely ill, a victim of tuberculosis.  During four years of convalescence, he formulated his existential philosophies and began a writing career.                 Camus spent the war years in Paris, participating in the French resistance with editorship of  Combat , an underground paper.  He continued his career in journalism and literature after the war, working with the Gallimard publishing house and traveling extensively.  On 4 January 1960, Camus was killed in an automobile accident.                 Most of Camus’ works are ...

The Stranger : A commentary on style and form STYLE  Camus’s style is simple, clear, and direct. He’s not writing an intellectual essay on a philosophical theme (as he did in  The Myth of Sisyphus ) but a novel that deals with his philosophical preoccupations. In order to do this, he has created recognizable characters and placed them in realistic situations. The clarity of style is the perfect instrument to convey the thoughts of the narrator (Meursault), who is attempting to find order and understanding in a confused and confusing world. Some readers point out the overall subdued quality of Camus’s style. Others compare his vocabulary to that of a child. Notice, also, the brevity of most of the sentences- which are also childlike- and the absence of complicated grammatical constructions. Camus describes objects and people but makes no attempt to analyze them. His attention is always fixed on the concrete nature of things. He uses words cautiously as if he were som...

How does the weather, and in particular, the sun, affect Meursault’s mood and behavior? Why do you suppose it has any effect at all? Can Meursault truly believe that the scorching sun is a valid excuse for murdering the Arab? The Stranger  is divided into two parts – what is the effect of such a structure? Do you see any structure created – outside of the two parts – that is marked by the three deaths of the text? Camus was a self-proclaimed "absurdist." Based on  The Stranger  and Meursault’s beliefs in  The Stranger , how would you define "the absurd"? What role do concepts like "detachment," "alienation," "acceptance," and "society" play? How is absurdity reflected in (a) the events in Meursault’s life, (b) the relationships Meursault finds himself in, and (c) the attitudes with which Meursault faces, and subsequently rejects, the world? How does Meursault change as an individual from the beginning of the ...

How to develop and write an analytic essay Argument :   Writing an analytic essay requires that you make some sort of argument. The core of this argument is called a thesis. It is your claim, succinctly stated in a single sentence. What do budding literary critics such as yourselves argue about? You make a pervasive, persistent case that a certain thing is true about a piece of literature. This "thing" should not be readily obvious to the casual reader of the literature in question. It is what you draw out of the book or essay, how you   interpret   it. It is a claim that must be supported by specific evidence from the text. Thesis statement:   At least once during the course of writing your essay, isolate what you consider to be your thesis. Is your proposition both arguable and reasonable? If it is obvious (i.e. Penelope is loyal to Odysseus) you don’t have an argument. Argument requires analysis (i.e. taking things apart and explaining them). One test that may h...

Writing a Strong Thesis Statement Every  thesis statement is an argument to be proved and supported by the body of the essay. Remember, if your essay doesn’t support your thesis statement, you have two choices: change your essay or change your thesis statement. WEAK THESIS:         I learned that if I procrastinate, my essays will not come out as good. STRONG THESIS: Say why: For many student writers, procrastination is based on fear; this fear keeps students from improving their writing because they do not take the time to fully develop their ideas. Say why we should care: Students should understand that worrying about grammar and spelling too early in the writing process will actually lead to a less analytical essay. Say how: English teachers often overwhelm students by giving them too many things to think about when writing essays: thesis statements, grammar, spelling, organization, audience, etc. Make ...

World Literature 2403/33 Professor Kiefer Spring 2018 Analytic Paper For this course you will be required to write one 5-7 page paper outside of class, of a minimum 1500 words in length . Any paper shorter than the minimum assigned will receive an F as an incomplete assignment. Except for meeting the very low minimum number of pages, don't concentrate on length, but try to make your papers as detailed, well-organized, and interesting as possible. All papers must be shared with me via Google Docs since I will be grading, commenting and returning them to you electronically. You MUST send an email to be indicating the paper is complete with an accompanying link provided. Please click on “allow to edit.” These papers are not necessarily research papers, and it is possible to receive an A on a paper without doing research for them, although good papers, incorporating good library work, will normally receive higher grades. You should choose a topic you are particularly interest...

Tonight we Distributed current grade sheets (remember they only represent 20% of your overall grade!) Discussed and reviewed Macbeth , with video clips and discussion of leit motif. Introduced the analytical paper . This is a required 1500 minimum paper to pass the course. Reviewed for the midterm exam next class on 3/19.  (No make-ups for this exam.) Due for our next class on 3/19: Prepare for midterm exam: Two essays, approx. 45 minutes each. You may bring two 3x5 cards with notes.  Write and submit via hard copy or email the Macbeth RRR.

The following rubric will be used to assess the scope and focus of your writing on the midterm. Please feel free to email me with any further questions. See you Monday, 3/19/18, for the exam.  FYI: No makeups are permitted without written documentation for the absence. Kean University English Composition Grading Policies Writing assignments are evaluated according to a) clarity of purpose; b) appropriateness to audience; c) clarity of focus; d) quality of development; e) effectiveness of organization; f) degree of fluency; g) stylistic skill demonstrated through word choice (diction) and sentence structure (syntax); and h) correctness of mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation). A  Excellent fulfillment of the assignments requirements; original substantive content; effective organization and logical development; correct mechanics; clear effective diction and syntax; fluent use of language; correct documentation (when applicable). B   Above average fulfillment ...

World Literature 2403/33 Midterm Review Midterm is Monday, March 19. There can be no make-ups offered for this exam. The following are GENERAL guides for the specific and detailed questions on the exam. You must address the questions using the details with which they are written,  NOT in the simple language or direction of this review!  The Odyssey 1.        How are women portrayed? 2.        Discuss Penelope and her loyalty. 3.        Discuss the values evident though Odysseus’ choices and actions. Macbeth 4.        Connect leitmotif to the author’s purpose. 5.        Support or defend a statement about the character of Macbeth 6.        Discuss how a foil is used to reveal the nature of a main character. Antigone 7.        Discuss Creon’s ...

Tonight we: Took a quiz on The Odyssey Books I-VIII. Participated and presented The Odyssey thematic group presentations Introduced the historic Macbeth and Shakespeare's motivations in writing the play. Homework: Read Macbeth Please bring Macbeth books or laptops with eBooks to class on Monday 3/5! The quiz on 3/5 will be on Acts I & II, but it is recommended you get ahead by reading the entire play. The following week we will begin the analytic paper and prepare for the midterm.