Here’s the final schedule. You will find the final updated syllabus, and all other documents labeled “web,” on Connect. I link directly here to readings available on the Internet.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1 (1/3, 1/5): Ecocriticism
Required Reading:
Robert Dale Parker, “Ecocriticism” (web)
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, “Land as Pedagogy: Nishnaabeg Intelligence and Rebellious Transformation” (web)
Suggested Reading:
Beowulf lines 1-1382
Week 2 (1/10, 1/12): Beowulf and the Hierarchy of Creation
Required Reading:
Beowulf lines 1-1441, focus on 1-193
Genesis 1-3 (web)
Riddle 26 (web)
Week 3 (1/17, 1/19): Wilderness and Monsters
Required Reading:
Beowulf lines 99-169, 1251-1441
Bruce Braun, The Intemperate Rainforest, ch 1 (web)
Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, “Monster Culture: Seven Theses” (web)
Weeks 4 and 5 (1/24, 1/26, 1/31, 2/2): Ice, Darkness, Depth
Required Reading:
Beowulf 803-851, 1251-1676
from Blickling Homily 17 (web)
from Ibn-Fadlan and the Land of Darkness (web)
Canadian Arctic cluster: cluster: Saki Knafo, “Cruising the Northwest Passage” (Travel + Leisure); Will Oremus, “The Upside of Global Warming: Luxury “Northwest Passage” Cruises for the Filthy Rich” (Slate); Sheila Watt-Cloutier Walrus talk (all on web)
Suggested Reading:
Stacy Alaimo, “Violet-Black” (from PE)
Weeks 6 and 7 (2/7, 2/9, 2/14, 2/16): The Seas
Required Reading:
Beowulf 1-1924, focus on 193-331, 499-581, 1888-1924
Meyer’s Beowulf pp. 1-82 (including Daniel C. Remein’s Introduction)
The Seafarer, trans. Roy Liuzza (web)
From Anissa Janine Wardi, Water and African American Memory (web)
Browse Melody Jue, Philosophy of Water blog (web)
MIDTERM EXAM 2/16
Week 8 (2/28, 3/2): Blood
Required Reading:
Beowulf 1-2176, focus on 480-498, 710-851, 1070-1158, 1408-1631, 1870-1881, 2021-2100
Meyer’s Beowulf pp. 83-154
Tobias Menely and Margaret Ronda, “Red” (from PE)
Suggested Reading:
Astrida Neimanis, “Hydrofeminism” (web)
Note: There is no class on 2/21 and 2/23 due to midwinter break. I have assigned a significant amount of reading for 2/28, so do it over break.
Week 9 (3/7, 3/9): Gold and the Harder Metals
Required Reading:
Beowulf to the end, focus on 529-687, 1191-1250, 1422-1784, 1920-2069, 2144-2311, 2490-2883, 3007-end
Graham Harman, “Gold” (from PE)
Weeks 10 and 11 (3/14, 3/21, 3/23): Fire
Required Reading:
Meyer’s Beowulf pp. 155-258
From Njal’s Saga (web)
Daniel Heath Justice, “’Go away, water!’: Kinship Criticism and the Decolonization Imperative” (web)
Anne Harris, “Pyromena” (web)
Note: Class is cancelled on 3/16, as I will be away at a conference.
Weeks 12 and 13 (3/28, 3/30, 4/4, 4/6): Beasts, Birds, and Time
Required Reading:
Beowulf: find the beasts!
Meyer’s Beowulf p. 185
From The Elder Edda (web)
From Snorri Sturluson, The Prose Edda (web)
Pat O’Riley and Peter Cole, “Coyote and Raven Talk About Environmental Justice” (web)
