Course Overview

It is universally recognized that the human condition is characterized by suffering, war, oppression, poverty, vain striving, and disappointment. Another way to understand the human condition is to recognize human nature as the arena where the desires to do good and evil are in protracted conflict. However, the human condition is also understood as the result of a fall from a potential or primordial state of grace, or as a deviation from humanity's original purpose. Each of these truths are manifested in the literary works selected for our group reading, providing an in-depth examination of man, his struggle with his own humanity and his quest for self-fulfillment. Through reading, discussion, and writing, you will meet and discover connections with various characters, and stop to ponder your own humanity along the way.

Course Objectives

• To examine a selection of diverse, representative texts
• To identify how major works of literature explore the human condition and examine human values
• To continue to develop critical thinking skills in analyzing literary production through historical and cultural contexts
• To articulate how individual works of literature are representative, even critical, of the cultural and historical periods in which they are written and read
• To become competent in writing about literature with respect to genres, major authors, periods, and critical theory
• To expand a vocabulary of literary analysis
• To encourage personal insights and observations en route to finding meaning and relevance in a text
• To improve writing skills through revision and editing
• To construct strong arguments drawn from evidence in the text
• To examine Shakespeare's use of language and his theatrical mastery through close reading and viewing of videos and performance
• To reach an understanding of the text/reader and writer/reader relationship

• Teacher: Belinda Snyman