RELIGION 312: THE JEWS IN LITERATURE
FALL, 1998

Office Hours and Communication

From time to time I will be communicating with the class by e-mail concerning assignments. E-mail is a good form of communication for making appointments; however, questions can be more carefully addressed face to face. For quick questions, please see me at the beginning or end of class. For longer conferences, please come to my office.
(Office Hours: Tues/Wed 8:30-11)

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to study the Jewish people through literature, both from the point of view of outsiders and that of Jews themselves. Although Jews are known as "the people of the book" and have had a rich literary history since ancient times, the emergence of Jews as characters in non-religious literature is a comparatively modern phenomenon. We will begin by studying Chaucer and Shakespeare but will thereafter turn to Jewish authors in order to carefully trace the development of a body of Jewish literature written in a variety of languages (Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, English) and cultures (European, American, Israeli).

If you have a disability and therefore may have need for some type of accommodation(s) in order to participate fully in this class, please feel free to discuss your concerns in private with me AND be sure to contact Dean Jane Martindell at PBX 5145 or via electronic mail at MARTINDELLJ.

Books

A. Available at the Bookstore and on Course Reserve
Michael Fishbane, Judaism
William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
Joseph Landis, ed., Three Great Jewish Plays
Glenda Abrahmson, ed., The Oxford Book of Hebrew Short Stories (OBHSS)
Emanuel Litvinoff, ed., The Penguin Book of Jewish Short Stories (PBJSS)
Joyce Antler, ed., America and I: Short Stories by Jewish American Women (A & I)
A.B. Yehoshua, Mr. Mani
Irving Howe, ed., A Treasury of Yiddish Stories
Robert Alter, ed., Modern Hebrew Literature

B. Resources in the Reference Room of the library
The Jewish Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia Judaica
The Encyclopedia of Religion

Course Requirements

A. Attendance and Participation This is a seminar and full participation of everyone irequired. Unexcused absences will result in a grade penalty. Careful reading and thorough preparation will enable you to participate fully in discussion. (25%)

NOTE: Required background reading This course is primarily focused on literature rather than on Judaism and the history of the Jewish people. Even so, it is a reasonable expectation that you will learn something about both those topics. In the beginning of the semester I will give short lectures and in addition I am assigning an introduction to the subject, Judaism by Michael Fishbane. Your reading of this book should be completed by 9/24. On that evening you should come prepared with questions from your reading. A quiz on the reading will be given on 10/1.

B. Two Team Presentations You and another student will be responsible for a particular work or group of works on two occasions. The team must prepare a handout with 3 points about the reading and at least 3 questions for discussion. Each team will first make a brief (no more than 20 minute) presentation in which the team shares new material which will enhance our discussion of the assigned reading. You will then initiate discussion, using the prepared handout as a departure point. (20% each presentation)

C. Writing All writing is due on the date announced, or, in the case of short essays, on the day the reading is discussed. Missed due dates will result in grade penalties unless properly excused. I do not consider e-mail requests for extensions. Please plan accordingly. Carefully read and follow my Guidelines, which will be distributed early in the semester, and review the College rules on Academic Honesty (see pp. 24-27 in the Course of Study). Please keep copies of all your writing until it is graded and returned to you.

1. Response essays Ten 1-2 page typed, double-spaced essays on the assigned reading. These are due in weeks of your choice at the seminar in which the reading you have addressed is discussed. Turn these in at an even pace throught the semester so that you have an opportunity to write on a variety of literature. Late essays will not be accepted. You should not turn one in when you are presenting.( 30%)

2. Research paper 10-12 pages, typed, double-spaced, fully annotated, with bibliography. This is your opportunity to research a topic of interest to you. Begin your quest for a topic immediately and follow the guidelines designated in the syllabus for timely completion of your work. You may write on any author whose work fits in with the theme of the course and should focus on one particular work of that author. (25%)

Course Outline

8/27 Getting started: Orientation to the issues of the course

Chaucer's "Prioress's Tale" from The Canterbury Tales
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "The Jewish Cemetary at Newport"
Emma Lazarus, selections

The Jew Portrayed by the Outsider: Sympathetic Portrait or Stereotype?

9/3
Shakespeare (1564-1616)
The Merchant of Venice

9/10-10/15 The Flowering of Yiddish Literature: Jewish Characters in Jewish Literature

9/10
video: "Image Before My Eyes"

Sholom Aleichem (1859-1916)
"Hodel" (PBJSS)
"On Account of a Hat" in A Treasury of Yiddish Stories 111-118 (CR)

9/17
I. L. Peretz (1851-1915)
"Bontsha the Silent," "The Golem" (PBJSS)
"If Not Higher" in A Treasury of Yiddish Stories 231-233 (CR)
video: "The Golem" (1920), selection

9/24
Lamed Shapiro (1878-1948)
"White Challah," "Smoke" (PBJSS)

Isaac Babel (1894-1941?)
"The Story of my Dovecote" (PBJSS)
"The Journey" (PBJSS)

10/1
S. Anski (1863-1920)
"The Dybbuk" in Three Great Jewish Plays

10/8
NO CLASS (October Reading Day)

RESEARCH PAPER TOPIC DUE IN CLASS NEXT WEEK: 10/15

10/15-10/22 Yiddish Speaking Immigrants Writing in America

10/15
Mary Antin (1881-1949)
"Malinka's Atonement" (A & I)

Anzia Yezierska (1885-1970)
"America and I" (A & I)

10/22
Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902-1991)
"Gimpel the Fool" in A Treasury of Yiddish Stories 401-414 (CR)
"A Friend of Kafka" (PBJSS)

Abraham Reisen (1876-1953)
"The Recluse" (PBJSS)

10/29 Beginnings of Hebrew Literature

10/29
Mendele Mokher Sefarim (S.J. Abramowitz, 1836-1917)
"Burned Out" (OBHSS)

S. Y. Agnon (1888-1970)
"Agunoth" in Modern Hebrew Literature, 183-194 (CR)

Hayyim Hazaz (1898-1972)
"Rachamim" (OBHSS)

11/5- 11/19 20th Century Hebrew Literature

11/5
Benjamin Tammuz (1919-1989)
"The Swimming Contest" (OBHSS)

Aharon Appelfeld (b. 1932)
"Badenheim, 1939" (PBJSS)
"Cold Spring" (OBHSS)

11/12-11/19
A. B. Yehoshua (b. 1936)
Mr. Mani

RESEARCH PAPER OUTLINE or EVIDENCE OF ORGANIZATION DUE 11/20

THANKSGIVING BREAK

12/3-12/10 Contemporary Jewish Literature in English

12/3
Phillip Roth (b. 1933)
"The Conversion of the Jews" (PBJSS)

Rebecca Goldstein (b. 1950)
"The Legacy of Raizel Kaidesh" (A & I)

Leslea Newman (b. 1955)
"A Letter to Harvey Milk" (A &I)

12/11
Jo Sinclair (b. 1913)
"Second Blood: A Rosh Hashonah Story" (A & I)

Dan Jacobson (b. 1929)
"The Zulu and the Zeide" (PBJSS)

Joanne Greenberg (b.1932)
"L'Olam and White Shell Woman" (A & I)

Marjorie Sandor (b. 1957)
"The Gittel" (A & I)

RESEARCH PAPER DUE SUNDAY, DEC. 13th at 4:00 p.m. under my office door.