Course Information
ÇANKAYA UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department of English Language and Literature
ACADEMIC YEAR : FALL 2010-2011
COURSE TITLE : ELL 510 Short Story
INSTRUCTOR : Prof.Dr.Aysu ERDEN
AIMS AND DESCRIPTION
The aims of this course are:
(1) to offer an introduction to the basic skills and intellectual tools required for making the study of short fiction
(2) to show the significance of short story as a modern genre and to point out the differences and similaties between it and the novel as the closest type
(3) to present an explanation of the common features of narrative prose by using practical examples focussing on representative works of American and English literatures.
The course encourages the student to study short stories on three levels:
(1) CLOSE READING: The students will be encouraged to pay close attention to the text itself. This study is concerned with helping them to build up an accurate description of the short fiction concerned.
(2) ANALYSIS: The students are expected to move on to explore the more sophisticated techniques and to put emphasis upon analysis, that is inspecting, comparing and evaluating the features and qualities that might be found in a short story. Furthermore, the students are also expected to examine the traditional elements of the short story (plot, setting, character, theme, symbolism, point of view).
(3) INTERPRETATION: Finally the students are expected to combine all the elements tha they have covered to arrive at the stage of interpretation. This stage involves making judgements about the short story, seeing the short story from different points of views.
The selected works will be examined thematically and structurally (as listed in the tentative course outline, below). Thus, the selected short stories will enable the students to make interpretations, to find connections and to consider similarities and differences among the writers who treat the same subjects with great variety.
The students will also be given a reference list of literary terms offering them the definitions and explanations of some of the common terms that they may come across or require to use in the study of the short stories,. This list will combine terms from a number of different aspects of literary studies that may be employed in the discussion of the short stories. The students can use these terms in their essays as well.:
- Linguistics (Semantics and stylistics)
- Figures of speech (Euphemism, metaphor, irony….)
- Literary criticism
- Literary categories
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION
The course will begin with bacground information about the development and elements of short story. The representative stories will be discussed in the classroom in detail.
TEXTBOOKS
The text material will be provided by the instructor
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to attend classes regularly. By university regulations attendance to at least 80% of the classes is compulsory. Those who exceed the 20% limit will not be allowed to attend classes and sit exams. Students are also required to participate in class discussions. In-class participation is strongly encouraged. There will be no make-up of any missed exams, therefore students are strongly recommended not to miss exams. Students can see the instructor during the office hours. If none of the office hours fit appointments can be arranged.
Office hours : TUESDAY, 13:40-16:30
E-mail : aysuerden@cankaya.edu.tr
GENERAL PROCEDURE AND ACTIVITIES
- Outside reading
- Lectures
- Discussions
- Class presentations
STUDENTS WILL BE ASKED TO
- read handouts
- carry out discussions
- present extra readings in the classroom participate in the discussions
EVALUATION
The performance of the students will be calculated according to the following percentage system:
Midterm exam I : 15%
Midterm exam II : 15 %
Verbal Presentation : 10%
In class participation : 15%
Final exam : 30%
In class attendance : 5%
GENERAL TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
- What is Fiction*
- The elements of plot*Short Story and Plot*
- Selectivity*
- The Ordering of plot*Evaluating Plot*Analyzing Plot*
- Characters in Fiction*
- Methods of Characterization*Characterization through the Use of Names, andthrough the Dialogue*Evaluating Character*Analyzing Character*
- Functions of Setting*Setting as Background of Action*Setting asAntagonist*Setting as a Means of Creating Appropriate Atmosphere*Setting asa Means of Revealing Character*Setting as a Means of Reinforcing Theme*Setting in Time*Analysing Setting*
- Point of View*Omniscient Point of View*Limited Omniscient Point of View*First Person Point of View*Stream of Consciousness*Dramatic Point of View*Reliable and Unreliable Narrators*Analysing Point of View*
- Theme*Identifying Theme*Analysing theme*
- Symbol and Allegory*Setting as Symbol*Character as Symbol*Analyzing Symbol and Allegory*
- Style and Tone*Diction*Syntax*Stylistic Analysis*Irony*Analyzing Style and Tone*
SHORT STORIES
1- “Cat in the Rain” ……Ernest HEMINGWAY
2- “Anny and Fannie”….D.H.LAWRENCE
3- “A Very Short Story”..Ernest HEMINGWAY
4- “Eveline”…………….James JOYCE
5- “Little Things”……...Raymond CARVER
6- “Colonel”……………Carolyn FORCHE
7- “How Could a Mother?”......Bruce HOLLAND
Course Outline
WEEK-1: Introduction: Analyzing fiction, elements of short
fiction
WEEK-2: Historical background of short story
WEEK-3: Short story analysis*How are short stories told
WEEK-4: Short story analysis* Construction of the short
story*Structural Studies* Close Reading
WEEK-5:Short short story analysis*Micro fiction*Flash
Fiction*Fast Fiction
WEEK-6:Short story analysis*Understanding the style*Prose
style* Poetic Fiction
WEEK-7: Midterm Exam I
WEEK-8: Short story analysis*Figures of speech
WEEK-9: Short story analysis*Language*appreciation*
interpretation
WEEK-10: Short story analysis*The convention of quotation
WEEK-11: Midterm Exam II
WEEK-12: Short story analysis*Thematic studies
WEEK-13: Short story analysis*Dynamic short
stories
WEEK-14: Short story analysis*Humour* Satire
WEEK-15: Short story analysis*Static short stories
REFERENCES
ALLEN, Roberta (1997) Fast Fiction-Creating Fiction in Five Minutes, Cincinatti: Story Press, ISBN 1 884910 27 0
Creative and Critical Approaches to the Short Story (1997) edt.:Noel Hjarold Kaylor, Jr. U.S.A.: The Edwin Press, Ltd., ISBN 0 7734 8614 3
FERGUSON, Suzanne (1997) “Local Color and the Function of Setting in the English Short Story”, Creative and Critical Approaches to the Short Story (1997) edt.:Noel Hjarold Kaylor, Jr. U.S.A.: The Edwin Press, Ltd., pp: 1-33, ISBN 0 7734 8614 3
GORDIMER, Nadine (1994) “The Flash of Fireflies” The New Short Story Theories, Edt.: Charles E.May, Athens: Ohio University Press, pp: 263-267, ISBN 0 8214 1087 3
HOOPER, Brad (1988) Short Story Writers and Their Work–A Guide to the Best, Chicago and London: American Library Association, ISBN 0 8389 0485 8
JOHNSON, Roy (1991) Studying Fiction-A Guide and Study Programme, Manchester: Manchester University Press, ISBN 0 7190 3397 7 (paperback)
KEATING, Helane Levine, Walter LEVY ( (1991) Lives Through Literature-A Thematic Anthology, New York: Macmillan Publishing House, ISBN 0 02362714 X
MAY, Charles E. (1995) The Short Story-The Reality of Artifice, New York: Twayne Publishers, ISBN 0 8057 0953 3
MAY, Charles E. (1994) “The nature of Knowledge in Short Fiction”, The New Short Story Theories (1994) Edt.: Charles E.May, Athens: Ohio University Press, pp: 131-143,
ISBN 0 8214 1087 3
PICKERING James H. and Jeffrey D. HOPPER (1981) Concise Companion to Literature, New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., ISBN 0 02 395400 0
Re-Reading the Short Story (1989) Edt.: Clare Hanson, London: MacMillan Press, ISBN 0 333 46814 7
The New Short Story Theories (1994) Edt.: Charles E.May, Athens: Ohio University Press, ISBN 0 8214 1087 3