English 1818
Schedule
The following schedule is subject to change according to the demands of the class. I will announce changes to it in class when the need presents itself. Pay close attention to page numbers for Atwood readings at the end of the semester. I am not requiring that you read the whole novel.
| Introduction | ||
| T | August 30 | Introduction to the class and the topic of Science Fiction |
| Part One: Frankenstein and Variations | ||
| Th | September 1 | Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Introduction-Ch. II Available online at "https://www.gutenberg.org/files/84/84-h/84-h.htm" |
| T | September 6 | Shelley, Chs. III-VII |
| Th | September 8 | Shelley, Chs. VIII-XIII |
| T | September 13 | Shelley, Chs. XIV-XX |
| Th | September 15 | QUIZ ON SHELLEY
Shelley, Chs. XXI-XXIV |
| T | September 20 | In-class viewing of Frankenstein (1931) |
| Th | September 22 | Discussion of Frankenstein, novel vs. film |
| T | September 27 | Black Mirror, "Be Right Back," Season 2, Episode 1, 2013. |
| Th | September 29 | PART ONE EXAMINATION ON FRANKENSTEIN AND VARIATIONS |
| Part Two: Alien Invasions | ||
| T | October 4 | H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, Book I, Chs. I-XIII Available online at "https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36/36-h/36-h.htm" |
| Th | October 6 | Wells, Book I, Chs. XIV-XVII; Book II, Chs. I-II |
| T | October 11 | Wells, Book II, Chs. III-X |
| Th | October 13 | QUIZ ON WELLS
The Twilight Zone, "Will the Real Martian Please Stand up?," Season 2, Episode 28, 1961.Film version of War of the Worlds (2005) |
| T | October 18 | Continued viewing of The War of the Worlds (2005) + Discussion |
| Th | October 20 | QUIZ ON ALIEN INVASIONS
Isaac Asimov, The Caves of Steel, Chs. 1-5 |
| T | October 25 | Asimov, Chs. 6-10 |
| Th | October 27 | No Class: Fall Break |
| T | November 1 | Asimov, Chs. 11-14 |
| Th | November 3 | Asimov, Chs. 15-18 |
| T | November 8 | PART TWO EXAMINATION ON WELLS, SERLING, SPIELBERG, AND ASIMOV |
| Part Three: Science-Fiction Dystopias | ||
| Th | November 10 | Margaret Atwood, The Year of the Flood, The Garden, The Year of the Flood, Creation Day (pp. 1-19) |
| T | November 15 | Atwood, Creation Day (pp. 30-48) DRAFT OF FUTURE TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS DUE FOR PEER-EDITING |
| Th | November 17 | Atwood, Festival of the Arks (pp. 87-121) |
| T | November 22 | QUIZ ON ATWOOD
Atwood, Mole Day (pp. 157-193) |
| Th | November 24 | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| T | November 29 | Atwood, April Fish (pp. 193-229) FINAL DRAFT OF FUTURE TECHNOLOGY ANALYSIS DUE |
| Th | December 1 | Atwood, Pollination Day-Saint Dian, Martyr (pp. 303-318); Saint Rachel and All the Birds (pp. 369-400)—slightly longer reading for today |
| T | December 6 | Atwood, Saint Terry and All Wayfarers (pp. 401-434) |
| Th | December 8 | Black Mirror, "Fifteen Million Merits," Series 1, Episode 2, 2013. |
| Th | December 15 | 8-9:50am FINAL EXAM (CUMULATIVE) IN THE NORMAL CLASS MEETING ROOM (H 470) |
6 September 2022