英語表現演習　９／English Seminars 9 English Seminars 9

【授業の目標 / Course Objectives】

Students who successfully compete the course will be able to, in English, understand the conflicts, themes, and structures of the course texts; discuss critical and interpretive responses to the above; understand relationships between social change, and literary/cultural representation; understand the effects of historical changes on both a community and an individual; understand American notions of selfhood, belonging, and their opposites in terms of urbanization, occupation, ideologies, race, and gender; read fiction with minimal recourse to a dictionary; and give short presentations on content, context, and interpretation.

【授業の内容 / Course Contents】

The great changes of the twentieth century resulted from the Enlightenment’s privileging of rationalism diluted the influence of religion; the Industrial Revolution bringing mechanization into the workplace; and urbanization further separating humans from nature. Behind these movements hovered Romanticism’s celebration of the specialness of each person’s imagination and existence, the steady erosion of feudalism in favor of capitalism, and the rise of the nation state and the idea of national identity. Then came World War One and the mass slaughter of the newly arisen ‘common man.’ In aftermath of these enormous social and cultural changes, Anglophone writers joined their European counterparts in struggling to understand the place of the individual in a rapidly modernizing world.
This course will sample some prominent literary explorations of selfhood in the face of these changes. The challenges of creating and maintaining a sense of self often proved too great. Alienation – whether voluntary or involuntary – became a main focus of novels, short stories, and poetry. The spring semester will concentrate on America, and how despite the promise of freedom, democracy, and the enshrinement of the pursuit of happiness in the national ethos, literature often found itself both lamenting and celebrating aliens and outsiders of various kinds.
This is also a course on reading, writing, thinking and discussion – the fundamental skills of scholars in the humanities. As such, we are here to gain a deeper understanding of the value of critical responses to ideas, assumptions, and theories, and the ways literary texts can challenge us to rethink our relationship to the world. We are also here to hone our abilities: as close readers of texts; as critical thinkers; as participants in lively, engaging, civil and enlightening discussions; and as writers of clearly and concisely argued literary-critical essays.
Because this course is about learning how to respond critically to texts, there is a heavy emphasis on students’ contribution. That contribution will take two forms: participation in class discussions, and completing homework assignments. Thus, students should come to class having read the assigned texts, and be fully prepared to discuss and ask questions about the texts.

【授業計画 / Course Schedule】

【活用される授業方法 / Teaching Methods Used】

板書 /Writing on the Board
スライド（パワーポイント等）の使用 /Slides (PowerPoint, etc.)
上記以外の視聴覚教材の使用 /Audiovisual Materials Other than Those Listed Above
個人発表 /Individual Presentations
グループ発表 /Group Presentations
ディスカッション・ディベート /Discussion/Debate
実技・実習・実験 /Practicum/Experiments/Practical Training
学内の教室外施設の利用 /Use of On-Campus Facilities Outside the Classroom
校外実習・フィールドワーク /Field Work
上記いずれも用いない予定 /None of the above

【授業時間外（予習・復習等）の学修 / Study Required Outside of Class】

Students are required to read the textbook carefully in advance (about 2 hours per class). After the class, students are required to do the assignments as instructed (about 2 hours per class).

【成績評価方法・基準 / Evaluation】

【テキスト / Textbooks】

【参考文献 / Readings】

【履修にあたって求められる能力 / Abilities Required to Take the Course】

【学生が準備すべき機器等 / Equipment, etc., that Students Should Prepare】

【その他 / Others】

【注意事項 / Notice】