ELIT 022-01, (2633) Mythology and Folklore Spring 2001

8:30 AM - 9:20 AM MTWTh

Classroom L34

Wallis Leslie, Instructor

Phone voicemail: 408-864-8999 ex 5620

Office TBA - Wednesday 9:30-10:30 AM

The Christian story tells us that we are dear to God who has apurpose for our lives. The Humanist story tells us that by learningand working we can help make the world a better place. TheNationalist story tells us that our lives are necessary to preservethe nation and increase its strength. The American success storytells us that our efforts should be spent to achieve social andeconomic status.

Myths show how people living far apart in time and technology havetold stories to help themselves understand the humancondition&emdash;understand the same pain, joy, confusion and wonderthat we confront today&emdash;but perhaps we explain it by tellingdifferent stories.

Maxine Hong Kingston in The Woman Warrior reports that hermother told her stories from China: "Whenever she had to warn usabout life, my mother told stories...to grow up on. She tested ourstrength to establish realitites. Those in the emigrant generationswho could not reassert brute survival died young and far from home."Myths are also stories that helped people survive.

This class will read stories told long ago and stories currentlyin the making. Perhaps we'll discover a hero with a thousand faces,or perhaps we'll find our own story. Course readings will includemyths from all around the world as well as folk tales, urban legends,and selected critical readings of anthropologists, psychologists, andtheoreticians such as Frazer, Campbell, Jung, and Eliade.

ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend classregularly, arriving on time, having read the material and prepared todiscuss and write about the assigned readings. Much classroom work isdone collaboratively, that is, working in pairs or small groups. Themost sought after qualities in the current job market are the abilityto find information, to work productively without supervision, and towork within a group. All these traits are fostered in a collaborativeclassroom. Thus, your punctuality and preparation are essential toyour successful performance in this class.

PAPERS: One 4-6 page essay exploring the ways the coursereadings, lectures, and group presentations as well as additionalreading and research illuminates your understanding of amyth/folklore topic of your choice. A meeting with the instructor andan in-class draft are required elements of this project.

CLASS PARTICIPATION: Active, informed, responsive, andready answers to questions, keeping up with the reading, dailyattendance, and productive participation in group activities willearn top credit here.

QUIZZES: Spot quizzes--no make-ups.

TESTS: There will be a midterm and a final exam consistingof short answer and essay questions covering class work and assignedreading.

GRADES: Grades are based on points. Keep a record of thepoints you have earned as well as the points that are possible toearn for all the class activities so that you will always know yourcurrent grade. Points are earned for paper (100 ), midterm (100),final (200), class participation (50), quizzes (10 each), and classprojects (10-20 each). Points are subtracted for a late paper and formore than four absences (you will be marked absent if you arrive lateor leave early).

90% of total possible points = A

80% of total possible points = B

70% of total possible points = C

60% of total possible points = D

less than 60% of total possible points = F

REQUIRED TEXTS:

World Mythology, 2nd ed., Donna Rosenberg

The Classic Fairy Tales, edited by Maria Tatar