University of Santo Tomas

College of Commerce and Business Administration

Course Title (No.): World Literatures Lit. 101-A Course Code:

Course Prerequisite : Credit Unit 3 units

None

Course Description:

Introduces students to the world literatures representing the gamut of human experiences as exemplified in different literary genre. Focuses on
the literatures of all the continents of the world from the beginning of civilization to the present.

Students are expected to understand and appreciate the expression of man’s thoughts and ideals by writing and critiquing selected literary works.

Major Competency:

Demonstrate creative and critical thinking, reading comprehension and good communication skills, in both oral and written outputs.

Course Objectives:

1. Develop among students the ability to read, understand, and appreciate the literatures of the world

2. Deepen their knowledge of the complexities of human life and nature,

3. Inculcate among students the respect for peoples and cultures, love for nature, desire for peace, and the passion for truth and justice,

4. Contribute to the enhancement of a compassionate, competent and committed global Thomasian.

5. Identify, comprehend, and value the different types and forms of literature across cultures.

6. Appreciate the significant human experiences exemplified in the different literary works.

7. Gain insights on the complexities of human nature, cultures and practices through a close reading of world literatures.

8. Write a critique paper on a novel, drama or epic.

9. Creatively transform literature to other artistic forms.

Value Objectives:

1. Demonstrate broader and deeper knowledge of the theoretical concepts of World Literatures.

Specific Objectives
Discuss the importance of
Literature and Culture.
Develop one’s Literary Taste.
Compare “Literature of
Knowledge” and “Literature of
Power.”
Discover the wonders and
beauty of nature.
Dramatize man’s role in
environmental preservation and
sustainability.
Teaching-Learning Evaluation Tools
Contents Time allotment
Activities
Unit 1: Introduction
LITERATURE AND CULTURE
A. Literary Types and Forms
B. Literary Standards
C. Why Literature? - Mario Power point Lecture
Vargas Llosa 5 hrs.
Written Quiz
D. Developing the Literary In-depth discussion
Taste - Paz Latorena
E. Literature of Knowledge
and Literature of Power-
Thomas de Quincey
Unit II:
SELF-DISCOVERY and
IDENTITIES
A. An Introduction- Kamala
Das Dramatic Reading 3 hrs.
Oral Recitation
B. The Velveteen Rabbit- Lecture
Margery Williams

Affirm diaspora and migration
as social phenomena.
Discover man’s response to
social cultural interaction.
In-depth discussion
C. Songbirds of Pain- Garry
Kilworth
Multi-media presentation
D. Sonnet 29- William
Shakespeare
Reinforcement Exercises
E. The Myth of Sisyphus-
Albert Camus
F. Revelations- Katherine
Mansfield Poem Interpretation
G. Stopping by Woods on a Song Interpretation
Snowy Evening- Robert
Frost
Group Dynamics
H. Sandra- Barry Manilow
Models/ Testimonials 4 hrs.
I. The Story of an Hour- Kate
Chopin
J. You Shall Be Free-
Trinidad Tarrosa- Subido Film Clip viewing
K. Odyssey (Book 9)- Homer
Power point
L. Ithaca- Constantine Lecture
Kavafy
M. The World of Our
Grandmothers- Connie
Young 3 hrs.
 N. The Question of Loyalty-
Mitsuya Yamada

O. Border Lover- Merlinda

Bobis

Unit III:

INSTITUTIONS. TRADITIONS
AND IDEOLOGIES
Discover the wonders and 3 hrs.
beauty of nature. A. Borderlands- Gloria Power point Reflection Paper
Anzaldua Lecture
Dramatize man’s role in Buzz Session
environmental preservation and B. The Lawsuit- Naguib
sustainability. Mahfouz Film Viewing: “Troy” or Role Play
“Helen of Troy”
Identify conflicts between C. Iliad (Book 24) - Homer
opposing ideologies.
D. Running Shoes- Rick
Barret

Translate opposing ideologies E. God is Love When She Panel Discussion 3 hrs.
into social phenomena. Prays my Name- Lois Ann Posters/ Visual Aids
Yamanaka

Examine man’s responses to F. Telephone Conversation-

transitions, e.g. traditions, Wole Soyinka
values, beliefs.
G. At the Portagees- Alex La
Guma

H. Swaddling Clothes- Yukio Historical Review

Mishima Written Exam
 I. Trifles- Susan Glasspell

J. Nightsong: City- Dennis

Brutus
Class Discussion
K. The Sacrificial Egg- Monologue
Chinoa Achebe

L. Chignon- Ch’l Chun

3 hrs.
M. Ah Mah- Shirley Geok-lin
Lim

N. Mexican Masks- Octavio

Paz

O. The Female Body-

Margaret Atwood

Preliminary Examinations
Computation of Class Standing 1 hr.
and Prelim Grades
Unit IV:

COMING TO TERMS WITH

RELIGION, DEATH, PAIN AND
SUFFERING. 3 hrs.
Emphatize with human loss Diary/ Journal Writing
e.g. love lost, abandonment, A. Musee des Beaux-Arts-
isolation, loneliness. W.H. Auden

B. After Great Pain, A Formal Audio-Visual Presentation

 Feeling Comes- Emily
Dickinson In-depth discussion

C. Riders to the Sea- John

Millington Synge

D. A Rose for Emily- William Power point

3 hrs.
Faulkner Lecture
Analyze the workings of a
deranged mind. E. Management of Grief-
Bharati Mukherjee
Discussion Guided Discussion
F. Innermost One-
Rabindranath Tagore

G. Lines Written in Her

3 hrs.
Illustrate the different manners Breviary- St. Teresa
of expressing religious faith and H. God’s Grandeur- Gerard
beliefs. Manley Hopkins

Assess the different forms of I. Inside the River- Rumi

spirituality shown in diverse
settings. J. The Second Coming-
William Butler Yeats

K. Psalm 23- King David

Unit V:

TALES OF LOVE, ROMANCE

Describe the beauty of love AND SEXUALITY
poems.
A. Sonnet 43- Elizabeth
Quote some significant and Barrett Browning Poetry Reading/ Interpret-
memorable lines from the love ation Oral Recitation 3 hrs.
 B. Las Ruinas Del Corazon-
Eric Gamalinda Written Quiz

C. Tonight I Can Write the Choral Reading

Saddest Lines- Pablo
Neruda

D. Chabela’s Wedding Cake

(excerpt)- Laura Esquivel
poems/
Film Viewing Interviews
sonnets/ stories.
E. Dark Glasses (from A
Lover’s Discourse) Roland
Barthes
Evaluate the theme of the
different selections.
F. From Possessing the Secret
Explain gender issues as they
of Joy- Alice Walker In-depth discussion Oral Recitation
relate to different cultures and
traditions. 3 hrs.
G. The Blank Page- Isak
Dinesen

H. Michael’s Dream- Mark

Doty

I. Fish Bones- Larissa Lai

J. The River Merchant’s Wife-

Li Po/ Li Bai
Unit VI:

THE VIRTUE OF BEAUTY AND

NATURE’S WAY

Discover the varied concepts of
beauty.
Appraise the aesthetics cited in
the selections.
Discover the wonders and
beauty of nature.
Dramatize man’s role in
environmental preservation and
sustainability.
Unit VII:
WAR, PEACE AND JUSTICE
A. Ode on a Grecian Urn-
John Keats
B. New Life at Kyerefaso- Museum Visit
Efua Sutherland Audio-Visual Presentation
Artistic Presentation 3 hrs.
C. At the Auction of the Ruby
Slippers- Salman Rushdie
D. Miss USA: Emma Knight-
Studs Terkel
E. The Tatooer- Junichiro Debate
Tanizaki
F. Where I Lived and What I
Lived For (excerpt) - Film Viewing
Henry David Thoreau
Group Dynamics
G. Paraiso- Ryan Cayabyab
H. The Boy Who Ate Stars-
Alfred Yuson
I. Thomas Mann- Wislawa Song Interpretation
Szymborska
3 hrs.
J. Both Sides Now- Joni
Mitchell
Dramatize the horrors and
destructions of war.
Perceive the effect of
devastation brought by war on
civilization and the human soul.
Criticize the operation of justice
in the world system.
Assess man’s manner of
justifying his actions.
Give opinion on different
standards of executing
judgment from different world
perspectives.
Affirm peace as a most elusive
commodity.
Justify how man tries to
achieve peace with himself,
and with others.
A. A Poor Christian Looks at
the Ghetto- Czeslaw
Milosz Testimonials 3 hrs.
Interview of War Veterans
B. Diameter of a Bomb-
Yahuda Amichai
C. Waiting for a Friend- Ngo 3 hrs.
Tu Lap
D. Cranes- Hwang Sun-won
E. War- Luigi Pirandello
F. The Cask of Amontillado-
Edgar Allan Poe Film Viewing Reflection on the film
viewed
G. God Sees the Truth But
Waits- Leo Tolstoy Research
H. The Mispaired Anklet- R. 5 hrs.
K. Narayan
I. Le Reine Blanche- Tanith
Lee
J. Karma- Gopal Baratham
K. Prayer- St. Francis of
Assissi Debate
L. In Response to the Power point Lecture
 Question: When Did Your Discussion
Peace Begin?- Ronny
Somneck

M. You Were Brave in that Holy

War- Hafiz

N. Strangers in a Small World-

Pico Iyer

O. A Brave and Startling

Truth- Maya Angelou

Present a creative group Creative Presentation- This

performance/ presentation in serves as the final project
class. for the semester.

The presentation is a group

work. The groupings will be
assigned by the professor.

This may be in the form of a

play, a music video, a song 3 hrs.
or poem composition, or
any creative output .

The piece to be presented

must be relevant or related
to any of the selections
taken up during class
discussions, or must be part
of the syllabus.

The grading will be based

 on their individual
performance or output.
Attendance and cooperation
during practices and
meetings shall be graded
accordingly.

FINAL EXAMINATION 1 hr.

Course References:

VIEWS: Between Borders, Beyond Barriers…Understanding Peoples and Cultures through World Literatures. UST Publishing House,
Basic Readings: 2009

Extended Readings: Dimalanta, Ophelia & Gemino Abad. FAQ About Poetry. Manila: UST Publishing House, 2003.

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology (revised ed), 2006.

Richter, David H. The Critical Tradition: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends. New York: St. Martin’s Press Inc., 1989.

Roberts, Edward & Henry Jacobs. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing (5th ed.) New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998.

Stott, Jon C., Jones, Raymond E. & Bowers, Rick. The Harbrace Anthology of Literature (3rd ed.) Canada: Nelson-Thomson
Learning, 2002.
Grading System:

Preliminary Grade:

Class Standing = 50%

Quizzes
Unit Tests
Recitation
Reports/ Projects
Play Presentation

Prelim Examination = 50%

Total 100%
Final Grade:

Prelim Grade 50%

Class Standing 25%
Final Examination 25%
Total 100%
Passing Grade: 70

PREPARED BY CORAZON E. PURA AND JEANETTE P. GRAJO