Dr.
Johanna Rubba
English Department
(Linguistics)
Cal Poly State University
San Luis Obispo
Last updated
4/12/00
© 2000 Johanna
Rubba
This is our course plan. Slight changes
may be necessary; be forewarned. Return to this page for updates, for example
when 'to be announced' readings are decided. Numbers in parentheses next
to a reading give its page count.
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Week 1 Mar. 27-29
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Introduction to the course. Fundamentals of
language in relation to literature, including introduction to grammar review.
Introduction of first primary topic: deviation, paralellism, and forgrounding.
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More on deviation, paralellism, and foregrounding:
Analysis of a short piece.
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Reading: Fowler
'Studying literature as language' (reserve) (5); Short Chs. 12 (23) &
1 (28); 56 pp.
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Week 2 Apr. 3-5
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Style & dialect variation in literature.
Focus: Dialect variation.
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2nd installment of grammar review.
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Reading: Short
Chs. 2 (36) and 3 (20) 56 pp.
Term paper proposals are due Mon.,
Apr. 10.
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Weeks 4-5 Apr. 17-19 & 24-26
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Analysis of literature based on conceptual
metaphor.
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Reading: Selections
from Lakoff & Johnson and Lakoff & Turner**
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Weeks 6-7 May 1-3 & 8-10
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Frame invocation in literature.
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Reading: To be announced.
In week 7 or 8 we will have a potluck
at my home; students can bring the ideas they are working on in their papers
for sharing and discussion. Attendance not obligatory but recommended (I'm
a great cook!)
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Weeks 8 & 9 May 15-17 & 22-24
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Topic choice to be determined by the class;
options:
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Linguistic indicators of point of view in
literature.
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Discourse analysis and dialogue in plays and
prose.
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As time permits, discussion of student papers.
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Reading: As
suits chosen topic, from Short and possibly others.
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Week 10 May
29th is Memorial Day. No class. Final class meeting May
31.
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Peer groups discuss student papers.
Term paper due dates are flexible.
I will ask you to commit to a date between Friday, June 2 (last day of
'dead week' and Wed., June 7 (which would be the date of our final exam
if we had one)
** These two works are among the most important
I know for understanding metaphor. Students in the past have reported that
they change not only their understanding of poetry, but of human reasoning
and everyday language. I recommend buying both (although I will put required
selections on reserve). Here is the information you'd need to order them,
online or through a local bookstore (I patronize the Novel Experince).
Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. 1980.
Metaphors we live by. Univ. of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL
ISBN 0-226-46800-3
Lakoff, George and Mark Turner. 1989. A
field guide to poetic metaphor. Univ. of Chicago Press: Chicago, IL
ISBN 0-226-46812-7