COML 075/ENGL 261: Higher Dimensions in Literature

Instructor: Neşe Devenot / ndevenot@sas.upenn.edu

Fall 2015, Tuesdays 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Harrison College House Rm. 101
Office Hours: By appointment

“The universe is not only stranger than we suppose, it is stranger than we can suppose.”
—Terence McKenna after J.B.S. Haldane

Course Description:
The concept of higher-dimensional hyperspace has taken on new meanings in light of the
advances of modern physics and the prospect of multiple dimensions coexisting alongside our
own. At the turn of the 20th century, new possibilities about the natures of space and time
fascinated mathematicians, philosophers, and artists alike. Riemann's mathematical
demonstration that the universe might exceed its standard three dimensions catalyzed projects of
reconciling the "supernatural" within the frameworks of science and rationality and of
contemplating the limits of human reason. In this course, we will examine the modes by which
higher dimensions have been envisioned in literature as both space and time. How does thinking
through the implications of these higher dimensions affect how we interpret these literary
worlds—and our own reality?

Questions we will consider include: Do dreams and other altered states of consciousness provide
access to different information about reality than our waking consciousness perceives? What are
the limits of science and rationality? Can souls exist beyond death in the fourth dimension? Is
time travel possible? Do parallel universes exist? If everything we know is based on our
experience, how can we contemplate things outside of our experience?

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Course Objectives:

• Developing close reading and active listening skills.

• Refining the ability to explain, analyze, develop, and criticize ideas effectively.
• Learning to write persuasive arguments and to support them with evidence.
• Exploring the relationships between science fiction and the history of science.
• Understanding the interplay of ideas between literature, science, and mathematics.

Required Books:

You must purchase or borrow the exact edition listed below. Books are available from the Penn
Book Center, 130 S 34th St., with the exception of Hinton’s Speculations, which is out of print
and must be purchased online.

♫ Edwin A. Abbott, The Annotated Flatland: A Romance of Higher Dimensions (Basic Books
2002)
♫ Carlos Castaneda, A Separate Reality: Further Conversations with Don Juan (Washington
Square Press 1991)
♫ Philip K. Dick, VALIS (Mariner Books 2011)
C.G. Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections (Vintage Books 1989)
Michio Kaku, Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and
the 10th Dimension (Anchor Books 1995)
Jane Roberts, The Oversoul Seven Trilogy (Amber-Allen Publishing 1995)
♫ Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five (Dell Publishing 1991)
♫ H. G. Wells, The Time Machine (W. W. Norton & Co., 2009)

Additional readings (marked with a “+”in the schedule below) are available on Canvas.
Readings marked with a “♫” are available to borrow as audio books from the Rosengarten
Reserve Room in the lower level of Van Pelt Library.

Supplemental Audiobooks:

♫ Michio Kaku, Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the
Picture of the Cosmos (Anchor Books 2006)
♫ Michio Kaku, Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers,
Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel (Anchor Books 2009)
♫ H.P. Lovecraft, “From Beyond”
♫ H.P. Lovecraft, “The Call of Cthulhu”

Class Attendance:

All class meetings are mandatory. Unexcused absences will affect your grade. Please arrive
promptly: three late arrivals will be counted as one absence. If class conflicts with a religious
holiday, please let me know within the first two weeks of the semester (per Penn policy) and you
will be excused.

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Disability Statement:

The University of Pennsylvania provides accommodations to students with disabilities who have
self-identified. Please make an appointment to meet with me as soon as possible in order to
discuss your accommodations and your needs.

Assignments

1. Canvas blog posts on assigned readings (due the night before class):
http://canvas.upenn.edu/
2. Two “discussion leader” in-class responses to Canvas postings. Students should prepare
to lead a discussion based on the blog posts. Please generate several thought-provoking
questions and email this list to me by the beginning of class.
3. Paper #1: One close-reading paper on an assigned passage (300-400 words).
4. Paper #2: One midterm paper (1600 words). Paper topics are chosen by students in
consultation with me.
5. Paper #3: One final paper. You may choose to write an entirely new paper (2400 words)
or extend your midterm paper (3000 words).

Papers should be typed, double-spaced, in Times New Roman 12-pt. font, with 1 inch margins
on all sides. Please email papers to me by the due date. Word counts are minimums; please try to
stick to them as closely as possible.

Grading:
This class is designed as a seminar. For this reason, careful reading, regular attendance, and
active participation are essential, both for your grade and for the overall dynamic of the class.
Always bring the assigned texts, as a considerable amount of each session will be spent in close
textual analysis.

• Canvas postings: 10%

• Discussion leader #1: 5%
• Discussion leader #2: 5%
• Close reading paper #1: 10%
• Midterm paper #2: 20%
• Final paper #3: 25%
• Class participation: 25%

http://coverhound.com/system/posts/images/000/000/104/original/Worm2.jpg?1339111529

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Schedule of Classes
Readings marked with a plus sign (+) are available on Canvas.

Sept. 1 + From Carl Sagan, Contact (1985)

Sept. 8: Kaku, Hyperspace (1994)

Sept. 15: Abbott, Flatland (1884)

Sept. 22: Wells, The Time Machine (1895)

⎙ Sept. 28 Paper #1 Due

Sept. 29: + Charles Hinton, An Unfinished Communication: Studies of the Unseen (1895)

Oct. 6 + From P.D. Ouspensky, Tertium Organum:  The Third Canon of Thought, a Key
to the Enigmas of the World (1912)

Oct. 13 From H.P. Lovecraft:

+ “From Beyond” (1920)
+ “The Call of Cthulhu” (1928)
+ “Through the Gates of the Silver Key” (with E. Hoffmann Price) (1934)

Oct. 20 + Mark Clifton, “Star, Bright” (1952)

+ Robert Heinlein, “—And He Built a Crooked House—” (1941)
+ Richard Matheson, “Little Girl Lost” (1953)

⎙ Oct. 26 Paper #2 Due

Oct. 27 Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)

Nov. 3 Dick, VALIS (1981)

Nov. 10 From Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections (1963)

Nov. 17 Roberts, The Education of Oversoul Seven (1973) [Part 1]

Dec. 1 Roberts, The Education of Oversoul Seven (1973) [Part 2]

Dec. 8 Castaneda, A Separate Reality (1971)

+ From Terence McKenna, True Hallucinations (1993)

⎙  Dec. 18 Paper #3 Due