Final Course Syllabus!

Mon 4/27 Heart of Darkness pp. 238-end. Vocab: inexorable (238), infernal (239), abject, fidelity (243); Why do you think Marlow sees himself as having entered into an “unforeseen partnership” with Kurtz? In what sense has he “remained loyal to Kurtz to the last”? What does Marlow seem to think Kurtz means by his exclamation “The horror! The horror!”? What do you think Kurtz is referring to? What lie(s) does Marlow tell Kurtz’s “intended,” and why?

Tue 4/28 Introduce and view Apocalypse Now (1979; dir. Coppola) in class. Bring your notebook, and take good notes during the film.Working Thesis and Annotated Bibliography due (5 sources)

Wed 4/29 Apocalypse Now

Thur 4/30 Apocalypse Now / all Freshmen and Sophomores to KCPA 9:20-11:30

Fri 5/1 Book talks and independent reading.


Mon 5/4 Finish and discuss Apocalypse Now
Bring Heart of Darkness to class

Tue 5/5 Position paper rough draft due in class / peer editing

Wed 5/6 Read Chinua Achebe, “An Image of Africa: Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” (Story and Its Writer 779-84). Vocab: ponderous (779), felicity (780), vignette (781), epitomize (783). Prepare for short, in-class writing discussing Achebe’s essay, considering his arguments in light of your reading of Heart of Darkness. Does Achebe have some valid points? Is he misreading Conrad? Some of both? Explain your perspective, and be prepared to support your argument with examples and/or quotes from Conrad’s novel.

Thur 5/7 Introduction to Things Fall Apart and student teacher assignment / Time to read and prep lessons

Fri 5/8 Book talks and independent reading.

Mon 5/11 Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, chaps. 1-4. Vocabulary: harmattan (3), plaintive (6), incipient (13), oracle (16), brusqueness (26), valediction (32), arduous (34). Pay attention to the proverbs Achebe uses in his story. How are they used? Do they seem important? Pay attention to the narrator. What kind of narrator is he, and what seems to be his attitude toward the Ibo (does he seem like an insider or an outsider?) Toward Okonkwo and other characters?

Tue 5/12 Things Fall Apart, chaps. 5-7. Vocab: harbinger (56), elusive (59). What is the difference between men’s and women’s stories in this community? How are men’s and women’s roles different in Umuofia? Are these roles any different in other villages? Position paper final draft due

Wed 5/13 Things Fall Apart, chaps. 8-10. Vocab: specious (80), esoteric (88), raffia (89). What kind of names does Ekwefi give her children, and why? Why does everyone in the village assume that Ezinma is an ogbanje child, and why is this significant?

Thur 5/14 Read Things Fall Apart, chaps. 11-13. Vocab: sinister (104), incipient (106), tremulous (121). Why do you think the priestess Chielo takes Ezinma to the cave? After Ezeudu’s son is shot, the narrator tells us “violent deaths were frequent, but nothing like this had ever happened” (124). What do you think he means by this? How is this incident exceptional? What effect does it have on Okonkwo’s life?

Fri 5/15 Book talks and independent reading.

Mon 5/18 Things Fall Apart, chaps. 14-19. Vocab: evangelist (143), callow (147), miscreant (152), abomination (153), emanation (157). Think about the questions Uchendu asks Okonkwo after he and his family arrive in Mbanta. Why is Okonkwo unable to answer these questions, and what do you think this says about him? What answers does Uchendu offer? Does his explanation complicate the very patriarchal culture and the hierarchal gender roles we’ve seen so far in Things Fall Apart, or not? What effects do the Missionaries have on this village? Who among the Ibo is attracted to Christianity, and who is not, and why?

Tue 5/19 Things Fall Apart, chaps. 20-25. Vocab: dispensation (178), zeal (178),
desecrate (186). Why do you think Okonkwo constantly regrets that Ezinma is a girl? How has Umuofia changed since Okonkwo and his family have been gone? How are Mr. Brown and Mr. Smith different, and how do these differences affect the Ibo? After you finish the book, consider it in relation to Heart of Darkness – do you see any parallels? In what sense might this book be a response to a book like Heart of Darkness?

Wed 5/20 Wrap up discussion of Things Fall Apart.

Thu 5/21 Review for final exam

Fri 5/22 Book talks / last day of class celebration.