First-Year Colloquium: Special Topics in Humanities (HNRS 195J/006)

Meets Wednesdays 3:00–3:50 in Slonaker House 219

Professor Tom Willard

Department of English
Modern Languages Building, room 494
Phone: (520) 621-5411
Email: willard@email.arizona.edu
Website: willard.faculty.arizona.edu

“This course is available only to first-year non-transfer honors students.  Honors professors will lead
small 1-unit seminars that build on the Honors College first-year program. This is primarily a discussion-
based course. Students will be introduced to a variety of topics in the humanities.”

Some of the world’s most enduring poetry is based on myths: stories of gods and heroes that convey the
values of a culture. We will read selected myths from the greatest collection of Greek and
Roman mythology, the Metamorphoses of Ovid, written during the reign of Augustus Caesar. We will
also consider some myths of our time, whether found in the entertainment media or in social and
political discourse, as well as those in other cultures or other times. Expect to write several short
responses to and to participate in a class presentation.

Required text: Tales from Ovid, translated by Ted Hughes (New York: Farrar Straus and Giroux, 1999).
ISBN 978037452587. $17.00 new; $12.75 used. Please note that the British edition (Faber & Faber,
1997) has different page numbering and will therefore be harder to use.

Supplemental reading. Short printable texts posted on D2L. Required reading when named in the
syllabus, otherwise optional.

Syllabus

Jan. 9. Introduction to the course: objectives, requirements, policies, and options.

Jan. 16. In Hughes, read vii–x; 3–21 (Introduction; Creation myths). Write a response to either Lycaon or
Flood.

Jan. 23. In Hughes read 22–48 (Cautionary myths; Etiological or origin myths). Write a response on one
of the myths read for today. On D2L read “Northrop Frye on Myth.”

Jan. 30. In Hughes read 49–66 (Seasonal myths). Write a response paper. On D2L read “Ovid’s Fasti.”

Feb. 6. In Hughes read 67–87 (Psychological myths). Write a response paper.

Feb. 13. On D2L read Scott Momaday’s “Rainy Mountain.” Bring the draft of your personal myth for
workshopping in class.

Feb. 20. In Hughes read 88–103 (Olympian, Archaic, and Homeric myths). Write a response paper. Bring
the draft of your personal myth for workshopping in class.
Feb. 27. In Hughes read 156–161 (Homeric myth). Submit essay on a personal myth essay due.

Spring Recess

Mar. 13. In Hughes read 104–139 (Myths of love). Presentations on Adonis and Pygmalion.

Mar. 20. In Hughes read 140–155 (Myths of heroism). Presentation on Hercules.

Mar. 27. In Hughes read 162–187 (Myths of excess). Presentations on Arachne and Bacchus. Essay
proposal due.

Apr. 3. In Hughes read 188–208 (Myths of greed and grief. Presentation on Midas or Niobe.

Apr. 10. In Hughes read 209–213 (Myths of gender). Presentation on Salmacis and Hermaphroditus.

Apr. 17. In Hughes read 214–229. (Myths of power and abuse). Presentation on Tereus and Philomela.

Apr. 24. In Hughes read 230–237 (Literary myth). Presentation on Pyramus and Thisbe.
Researched essay due.

May 1. On D2L read “The Ending of Metamorphoses.”

Exam week. Conferences as scheduled to collect final essays.

Please note that March 28 is the last day to withdraw from the class using UAccess

Requirements

All assignments must be submitted in hard copy, in class, on the dates due.

Responses to readings during weeks 2–7. Best four = 20 percent of the course grade.

Essay on a personal myth. 20 percent.

Paired presentation on a myth. 20 percent.

Researched essay on an approved topic. 20 percent. (This project replaces the final exam.)

Attendance and participation. 20 percent of course grade.

(Details on each assignment will be posted on D2L under Contents.)

Extra credit

Optional assignments will be posted on D2L along with firm deadlines. 1-3 points each