Reading and composition in connection with the representation of Scandinavia by outsiders and insiders. Satisfies the first half of the Reading and Composition requirement.

This class will be taught via synchronous remote instruction. Time conflicts are not allowed for this class. Many of the stories that we love the most feature the discovery of magic or other elements beyond the normal range of human experience. But accompanying the main character’s delight at learning there is more to the world than they had previously thought, a shadow of doubt and fear often trails close behind. Are their senses to be trusted? Should a forest hidden in a wardrobe, a rabbit hole lined with bookshelves and cupboards, or a letter delivered by owl be seen as invitations to something wonderful, or something to be wary of? How can one be absolutely certain that such things, previously understood to be impossible, exist outside of one’s mind? Literature offers a unique playground for such ideas. The imaginings of a character may be seamlessly presented alongside reality in a text or a character’s declining mental state may be depicted by impossibilities slowly seeping through the pages of an initially strictly plausible story. And stories can of course offer a visceral depiction of how belief can give very real power to constructs and rumors, spinning monsters out of whispers and fears. This course will explore this property of literature and how it can be used to interesting effect when a narrative is told through the voice of a character whose perception of reality is not reliable. We will pay special attention to cases in which the distinctions between reality, imagination, and hallucination are not clear-cut. Areas of interest include how the powers of the mind are presented and how they may interact with supernatural story elements, the idea of a “twice” imagined space (elements fabricated within a character’s mind within an already fabricated story), as well as how literature engages with the concept of madness in general. The figure of the “madwoman” in Gothic literature and its reception will be discussed as well. The course will focus mainly on literature from the modern period from the Nordic region but will include a few selections dealing with madness and perception of supernatural creatures from medieval Icelandic literature and some collected folklore from around Scandinavia. The core readings from the 1800s or later include Amalie Skram’s Professor Hieronimus, several works by Selma Lagerlöf including The Treasure, Henrik Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea, works by Karen Blixen, and a few more contemporary stories, including a modern ghost story and a contemporary Swedish video game dealing with similar themes. We also may compare our Nordic readings with relevant works by authors from outside of Scandinavia, such as excerpts from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll or Hangasaman by Shirley Jackson. Students will work on improving their writing style, editing practices, and critical reading skills in this class. Focus will be placed on becoming comfortable with close reading, constructing a strong argument based on textual evidence, working with other classmates to provide helpful feedback to peers, and working through multiple revisions. Coursework will include reading the assigned texts in English translation and various writing assignments, ranging from short informal free-writes to longer responses, reflections, and essays. Texts: Readings on bCourses A Pocket Style Manual. Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers. ISBN-13: 978-0312542542

Requisites

• Satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing Requirement.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills