Proseminar Myths and Adaptations

What is myth? This is a question which kept theorists and scholars from fields as varied as literature, psychology, theology, and anthropology busy for much of the twentieth century. In this seminar, we will cast a very wide net and look at the different functions and uses of myth as well as its connection to literature in particular. We will begin by looking at different creation myths from the Bible and Greek Mythology, keeping in mind the relationship between the reader (or hearer) to these texts as well as look at which particular strategies and elements these types of texts use. Additionally, we will read excerpts from Homer’s The Odyssey. After that, we will skip forward significantly in time and have a look at how modernist writers such as T. S. Eliot and James Joyce incorporated myth into their respective texts -The Waste Land” and Ulysses, again to be read in excerpts. Then, we will explore Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad, which features a switch in perspective as Atwood re-imagines the story of Odysseus from Penelope’s point of view, allowing us to look for switches in narrative strategy. Lastly, we will have a look at modern fantasy literature and its strategy of creating worlds based on -artificial myth”. Texts used will be the first novel from Ursula Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea series as well as the beginning chapters of Tolkien’s The Silmarillion. Please note : This course takes place twice! Atwood, Margaret. The Penelopiad. Le Guin, Ursula K. A Wizard of Earthsea. Additional reading material will be provided in a reader which you need to purchase separately at WISO-POOL. Voraussetzungen Prior to our first session, please visit the reserve shelf and make a copy of the introduction of Robert Segal’s Myth: A Very Short Introduction, read it, and bring it to class. It is mandatory that you turn up for the first meeting, no exceptions. Leistungsnachweis Regular and active participation as well as an oral report or similar (depending on the number of participants) are required for obtaining credits in this class. Research papers should be 10-15 pages in length, depending on your Modulprüfungsordnung. FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik Prior to our first session, please visit the reserve shelf and make a copy of the introduction of Robert Segal’s Myth: A Very Short Introduction, read it, and bring it to class. It is mandatory that you turn up for the first meeting, no exceptions. Regular and active participation as well as an oral report or similar (depending on the number of participants) are required for obtaining credits in this class. Research papers should be 10-15 pages in length, depending on your Modulprüfungsordnung. Uni Kassel SoSe 2014 Amerikanistik English and American Culture and Business Studies Sezi Murat