In one of the earliest surviving works of literature (The Epic of Gilgamesh), the gods punish a character by striking him down with plague; that character (Enkidu) asks why he was given life in the first place if he cannot make his own choices, and live the way that makes him happy. From the beginning, then, writers have asked about the meaning of life, with special attention to questions of moral and civic responsibility. This course will look at the earliest considerations of the nature of moral and ethical behavior in the work of a variety of philosophical and literary authors (Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Homer, Ovid) authors. Greek and Roman society will lie at the heart of the course, but we will also read ancient Hebrew, Sumerian, Indian and Egyptian texts.
1. Students will learn to analyze and interpret works of film, literature, and new media.
2. Students will learn how to apply a variety of social, political, and philosophical theories.
3. Students will lean the traditions and conventions of various forms of narrative art.
4. Students will become familiar with the way historical forces shape artistic production.
5. Students will be able to organize and express information clearly and accurately.
The Longman Anthology: World Literature (Volume A) (Pearson Longman) ISBN 0205625932
Grading and Assignments
Written work includes two short papers (4-5 pages), one long paper (8-9 pages), and a series of quizzes. In addition, you will participate in one (group) oral presentation. All assignments must be completed to attain a passing grade. Attendance and participation will count toward the final grade. Absences must be justified in writing. Essays are due AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS and are to be submitted in person. Late papers will not be accepted.
Participation and Attendance 10% Short Papers 30% Quizzes 15%
Group Presentation 20% Long Paper 25%
Attendance and participation will count toward the final grade. Absences must be justified in writing.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.
Any material in a paper not composed by the author, or borrowed without attribution, will be considered plagiarized. Plagiarismis a serious offence and will be dealt with according to the Academic Honor Code. (http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-affairs/academic-honor-code). When in doubt, use quotation marks and cite sources. Sanctions for plagiarism can range from a failing grade in the course to expulsion.
This course is meant in part to improve and evaluate your writing ability. For this reason, for the purposes of this class, any student found to have used AI technologies or programs (e.g. Chat GPT) to compose part or all of any submitted work will face the same penalties as a student who submits plagiarized work (i.e. a failing grade in the course). To repeat: AI-generated work will be treated as equivalent to plagiarized work.
Core Area/Attributes: This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area. Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas.
This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals. This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:
• How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?
Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:
• Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.
Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:
Ethical Reasoning; Information Literacy; Intercultural Competence