260.327 Literary Trials
Time: MW 12:30-1:50
Instructor: Dr. Hollis Robbins
Place: 207C
Office: 204C
hrobbins@jhu.edu
I. Course Objectives:
Historical and fictional works depicting legal trials have been a part of the Western literary heritage for thousands of years. In this course we will read a foundational literary trial: Sophocles’ Antigone and then focus for the balance of the semester on American literary trials in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We will pay particular attention to the questions of race and the nature of law aboard ship.
II. Course Requirements:
Attendance/Class participation
1 Oral Presentation (10 minutes minimum), 1 response (5 minutes minimum)
Midterm exam
Two analytical papers (4-6 pages, 6-8 pages)
Attendance for this class is critical. Much of what you will learn in this course will be the result of class exercises and discussion. Discussion and debate are crucial to the learning process. You are expected not only to attend but also to participate. Three absences (excused or not) will begin to push your final grade downward. You will be required to read and be prepared to discuss all of the assignments. The schedule below indicates the date by which particular works should be read and the amount of reading to be done each day to stay current with class discussion. Bring the text to class each week. I do not accept late papers unless there is a compelling reason for missing the deadline.
III. Required Texts:
Sophocles, Antigone (any edition, but Penguin, Three Theban Plays preferred)
Herman Melville Billy Budd and Benito Cereno (Penguin Classics edition, 1986)
Marl Twain, Puddn’head Wilson (Bantam Classics edition)
William Faulkner, Intruder in the Dust (Vintage edition, 1991)
Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny (Back Bay)
IV. Schedule and Reading
Week 1 Basics of Trial: Formal Procedures
W Sept 5 Who gets to speak? Who has a role?
For next week: Read Antigone
Week 2 Antigone
M Sept 10 Discuss Antigone
W Sept 12 Discuss Antigone as trial v literature
Week 3 Antigone and Benito Cereno
M Sept 17 Class Debate: Creon v. Antigone
W Sept 19 Begin Benito Cereno
Week 4 Benito Cereno
M Sept 24 Discuss text
W Sept 26 Debate text
Week 5 Benito Cereno and Billy Budd
M Oct 1 Billy Budd
W Oct 3 Billy Budd
Week 6 Billy Budd and Britten
M Oct 8 Forster Libretto
W Oct 10 Film: Billy Budd
Week 7 Billy Budd
M Oct 15 No Class- Fall Break
W Oct 17 Class discussions – Billy Budd
F Oct 19 Draft 1st paper due on Billy Budd
Week 8 Puddn’head Wilson
M Oct 22 Discuss Puddn’head
W Oct 24 Continue discussion
F Oct 26 1st Paper Due
Week 9 Puddn’head Wilson
M Oct 29 Discuss Puddn’head
W Oct 31 Midterm
Week 10 Intruder in the Dust
M Nov 5 Discuss Intruder
W Nov 7 Film: Intruder
Week 11 Intruder in the Dust and Amistad
M Nov 12 Discuss Intruder
W Nov 14 http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/amistad/AMISTD.HTM
Week 12 Thanksgiving
M Nov 19 Film: Amistad
W Nov 21 No class -- Thanksgiving
Week 13 Caine Mutiny
M Nov 26 Discuss Text
W Nov 28 Debate Text
Week 14 Caine Mutiny
M Dec 3 Debate text
W Dec 5 Film: Caine Mutiny Court Martial
F Dec 7 Final Paper Draft Due
Week 15 Wrap-up
M Dec 10 Discuss texts
W Dec 12 Film
Week 16 Final paper due
T Dec 18 Final Paper Due
