DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES

COURSE OUTLINE IN GREAT BOOKS

COURSE TITLE: Great Books

COURSE CODE: 1LIT12

NUMBER OF UNITS: 3 units

CONTACT HOURS: 3 hours

Pre-requisite subject/s: None

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Quizzes, Recitation, Portfolio, Projects, Major

Examinations, Midterm (Literary Analysis Paper), Finals (Dramatic Presentation/Role
Play)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course objective is to familiarize students with the great
ideas contained in the original works by the greatest literary writers, chronologically,
beginning with the works of the Ancient Greeks, which are seminal to classical and
Western civilization. It also equips students with the timeless insights of contemporary
writers, insights that are at the heart of liberal education. Communication students will
enhance their communication skills by reading, appreciating and critiquing literary
works. On the other hand, Psychology students will understand deeper human behavior
by delving into the psyche of writers and characters.

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the semester students are expected to:

1. Discuss, reference and, in varying measure, understand the specific works

studied.
2. Engage in philosophical, poetic, and rhetorical reading, writing, speaking,
reasoning, interpretational, and conversational skills through critical reading and
discussions of Great Books.
 3. Evaluate and synthesize ideas found across several readings by different
authors.
4. Function more effectively as a member of a democratic society with
independent judgment.
5. Have a deeper understanding of the persisting questions of human existence
through philosophical conversation with students about highly intellectual
materials.
6. Take part in the ongoing intellectual dialogue about the great ideas contained
in the most influential books of Western civilization, often called the Great
Conversation, by which contemporary life is knowingly or unknowingly governed.

COURSE CONTENT:

MIDTERM PERIOD FINAL PERIOD

1. Aesop’s Fables 8. There is Another Sky by Emily

2. Antigone by Sophocles Dickinson
3. He Is More Than A Hero by 9. Telephone Conversation by Wole
Sappho Soyinka
4. The Garden of Stubborn Cats by 10. The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar
Italo Calvino Allan Poe
5. Shakespeare’s Sister by Virginia 11. If You Forget Me by Pablo Neruda
Woolf
6. The Necklace by Guy de 12. The Book of Sand by Jose Luis
Maupassant Borges
7. The Two Brothers by Leo Tolstoy 13. I Am A Filipino by Carlos P.
Romulo

GRADING SYSTEM:

Grading Scheme: 70% Class Standing & 30% Major Examination(s)

Formula:
CSM- Class Standing Midterms ME- Midterm Examination
CSF- Class Standing Final FE- Final Examination
Final Grade = 70% (CSM) + 30% (ME) + 70% (CSF) + 30% FE)

50% Passing
References:

1. Cruz, J. (2018). Great books: a treasury of world literature 4 th Ed. Manila:

Fastbooks Educational Supply.
2. Day, G. (2008). Literary Criticism: A New History. Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=243582&
site=ehost-live
3. Dela Cruz, R. (2014). Understanding literature: through cultural experience.
Manila: Mindshapers.
4. Dobbie, A. (2015). Theory into practice: an introduction to literary criticism. USA:
Cengage Learning.
5. Gillespie, S. (2016). Shakespeare’s books: a dictionary of Shakespeare sources.
London: Bloomsbury.
6. Goulimari, P. (2015). Literary criticism and theory: from Plato to postcolonialism.
London: Routledge.
7. Laird, A. (2006). Ancient Literary Criticism. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=201113&
site=ehost-live
8. Nirmala (2018). Cat Stories: The Garden of Stubborn Cats by Italo Calvino.
Retrieved from
https://redlipsandbibliomaniacs.wordpress.com/2018/08/20/cat-stories-the-
garden-of-stubborn-cats-by-italo-calvino/
9. Nigdélian-Fabre, V., & Brichard, R. (2016). Antigone by Sophocles (Book
Analysis) : Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide. [France]:
BrightSummaries.com. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1379995
&site=ehost-live
10. Poe, E. A. (2013). The Complete Stories of Edgar Allan Poe. [Place of
publication not identified]: e-artnow. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=575359&
site=ehost-live
11. Rodil, R. (2014). Heritage of world literature. Mandaluyong: Books atbp.
Publishing.
12. Sebastian, E. (2018). An Easy journey literature. Manila: Mindshapers.
Soriano-Baldonado, R. (2013). Readings from world literatures: understanding
peoples’ cultures, traditions and beliefs (a task-based approach). Quezon City: Great
Books Publishing.
13. Vansteenbrugge, J. (2017). The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant (Book
Analysis) : Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide. Cork:
BrightSummaries.com. Retrieved from
 http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=1627090
&site=ehost-live
14. Worthington, R., & Aesop. (2009). Aesop’s Fables. [Auckland, N.Z.]: The Floating
Press. Retrieved from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xww&AN=314133&site=e
host-live