Midway upon the journey of our life
I found myself within a forest dark
For the straightforward pathway had been lost.
Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say
What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,
Which in the very thought renews the fear.
So bitter is it, death is little more;
But of the good to treat, which there I found,
Speak will I of the other things I saw there.
Dante’s Inferno, Canto I
We begin our descent
Our seminar begins with two different images of Hell: The first is our War in Iraq.
In this section of our seminar, I will use these images to introduce you to our first social science concept: Description. The meaning of the word “description” seems straightforward, at least until we begin thinking about it. What exactly do we mean when we describe something? What does an accurate description look like? Why do people disagree over an exercise that seems so simple? Why should this disagreement matter (in a deep sense)?
From this day forward, you are responsible for keeping up with all of the readings on this syllabus. In addition to the required books, you must bring copies of both the assigned readings marked “PRINT” as well as hand-outs to class. Every time we meet, you must have the required readings in front of you so we can have a robust discussion.
1. Tuesday, January 14
Discussion Topic: Why is the theme of Hell a significant part of life? Why do we use the term so frequently?
In this, our first class meeting, I will outline my goals and the structure of this course. I will also conduct a class survey.
On Thursday, we will start familiarizing ourselves with the terrain of Hell. Here is my personal guarantee: Everything we do as we move through this semester will relate to subsequent segments of the course. As we begin our readings and discussions, imagine yourself as a collector, picking up different visions of Hell and trying to discern what they are about. The more you collect, the easier it will be to see how all of the components of this seminar coalesce.
On Thursday, we will begin our discussion of Kevin Powers’ book, The Yellow Birds. Read as much of the book as you like, but we will only concentrate on the Epigraphs before the first chapter and pp. 1-72. You must finish the entire book by next Tuesday.
Writing Assignment for Thursday:
The Yellow Birds is a very powerful–and disturbing–depiction of the Hell of War, although at first it doesn’t seem to be. Powers doesn’t focus on the fighting and loss of life. In fact, much of this section of the book takes place outside Iraq. Yet, Powers is actually setting us up for a description of war that is very different from what Private Bartle wants it to be.
Please write a brilliant sentence in response to this question: “What does Bartle wants war to be?” You may only choose one of his preconceptions. And it should be the most important. Then, write two equally brilliant follow-up sentences in which you clarify your first sentence. All of your sentences should flow logically and seamlessly together.
This sounds like an easy assignment. But, it’s not. The purpose of this exercise is to begin training your mind to think about how you introduce a paper. Thus, you should spend a significant amount of time choosing the best sentences. Rewrite your drafts. Imagine that your sentences are the introduction to a paragraph. Your sentences should grab my attention. If they do not, you will need to rewrite them because writing “fails” when you lose the reader’s attention.
There is no correct response to this assignment.
NOTE: Your sentences must be typed and double-spaced. You should consistently adhere to this rule throughout our course. I’m afraid I won’t be able to read any of your assignments if they aren’t typed and double-spaced.
I have created Google folders for each of you where you can deposit Google documents of all of your assignments. You should already have received your folders. You should post your responses in your Google folder before the class in which we will discuss their respective topics. Thus, you should always look ahead for them. Note: I do not use Canvas.
From Thursday onward, I will post your writing assignments on the date they are due on this Syllabus.
IMAGE ONE
OUR WAR IN IRAQ I: “War is hell”
2. Thursday, January 16
Discussion Topic: What is the Hell of War? Powers and countless great writers–and many more not-so-great writers–before him have struggled to describe war in its fullest and deepest sense. Because humans go to war so often, the opportunity to accept the challenge has been available for millennia.
Kevin Powers, The Yellow Birds, Epigraphs before the first chapter and pp. 1-72. READ AND TAKE NOTES.
3. Tuesday, January 21
Discussion Topics:
In this session, I am particularly interested in two issues: 1) What is war like in all of its manifestations? 2) If someone writes about war, how should he or she go about choosing the appropriate words and sentences to capture the topic in its fullness Keep in mind: You are dealing with the challenge of description). However, I also encourage our discussion leaders to come up with even better questions.
Kevin Powers, The Yellow Birds, pp. 72-226, as well as the Author’s Note (after the Acknowledgements) READ
Writing assignment:
According to Powers (and in contrast to Bartle’s initial expectations), what is war really like?
Please write a paragraph of no more than 6 sentences in response to this question. In responding to this question, you should only focus on what you deem to be the most important characteristic of war. Do not give the reader a list of different characteristics. Different themes would ultimately lead to different papers.
Imagine that your paragraph is the introduction to a long essay on this topic. As you write, think about your response to your preceding assignment. Should you have written something different? Maybe not.
Anyone can write a paragraph, but it is a big challenge to write a great one. Thus, you should think hard about what a great introductory paragraph should do. Please spend lots of time making this paragraph the best one you can imagine writing.
4. Thursday, January 23
Discussion: Great Writing, Persuasive Criticism
George Orwell was one of the finest stylists in the English language. His works are deceptively easy to read. Most people cannot write like this. I want you to try.
Each of the following readings relates directly to the topics of our seminar. We will return to them again and again.
In the first part of this class, we will discuss what makes great writing great. What are the features of great writing? Why is great writing so difficult?
George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language” PRINT AND READ
Famous facsimile (handout)
Mystery facsimile (handout)
Yet, sometimes it’s not enough to be a great writer. See: British Council, “Apologies to Mr. Orwell” READ
In the second half of this session, we will discuss what it means to write the introductory paragraph to a paper. What should it look like? What must it do?
If we have time, we will consider Orwell’s points about the use and abuse of words. What would Orwell say about the distortion of truth in our time? Is it any different than what he describes in his time?
Don’t forget to bring your physical copy of the Orwell reading to class.
You have a two-part assignment:
1. Read the articles below and write a concise introductory paragraph as well as the first sentence of the second paragraph that could be used for a longer essay.
Should NFL prospects be required to play in college bowl games? READ YES (some angry letters) and NO.
In writing your paragraph, attend to the following guidelines. Your paragraph and following sentence should be double spaced and no longer than 2/3 of a page (though the best paragraphs are no more than half of a page):
a. Identify the contested issue;
b. Identify the opposing positions;
c. State which side you will defend;
d. Provide a very brief road-map of how you shall proceed.
2. Identify three features of great writing and, in one sentence, explain why each is important.
IMAGE Two
BEING ALIVE: “Life Itself Is Hell . . .”
5. Tuesday, January 28
Existentialism, Version I: “A World Without God”
I am cheating a bit in having you read versions of this image of Hell. Both of the readings were written in the twentieth century. Mea culpa. However, they serve my purpose well enough to make this transgression worthwhile. Although “existentialist” literature is not in vogue at the moment, there are enough issues in the air today (e.g. the pandemic; global climate change; the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria; the possibility of a renewed mandatory military draft; even an asteroid exploding over Pittsburgh) to make me think this way of looking at the world is very much in the air. To add to my provocation, I am also throwing the Catholic church into both of these sections.
For background purposes, you can find a brief and very reader-friendly outline of the attributes of “existentialism” HERE
Do not worry about the many different types of existentialism. There are too many. Just get a sense for the general idea. In this first case–Jean Paul Sartre–we are looking at “existentialism for atheists.”
Discussion Topics: What does Jean-Paul Sartre say about the meaning of life? Do human being really have control over their lives? Once you have considered his responses to these questions, ask yourself whether the Catholic Church has a significantly different response.
Jean-Paul Sartre, “The Wall” PRINT AND READ
Article IV (1033-1037), “Hell,” Catechism of the Catholic Church: PRINT AND READ
Bring physical copies of this story and the Catechism document to class.
Paragraph assignment:
Imagine a debate between Sartre and the author of the Catholic catechism (let’s call him Jesus). What would constitute the central issue in the debate? What position would each side take on this issue?
You will know if you have chosen the central issue since Sartre and Jesus will take opposing stands. Without opposing views on a subject, there can’t be a debate.
Clue: You can identify the issue by imagining that Sartre and Jesus are facing each other while they enjoy a sumptuous feast at North Dining Hall.
6. Thursday, January 30
Existentialism, Version II: “A World With God”
Flannery O’Connor, a Catholic, was one of the most profound writers of the twentieth century. O’Connor is most often associated with a body of literature known as “southern Gothic,” which includes other writers, such as William Faulkner and Harper Lee. Hesburgh Library has a priceless recording of her reading one of her most famous stories–“A Good Man is Hard to Find”–while on a visit to Notre Dame. It not only provides tremendous insight into her thinking. It’s also hilarious.
Flannery O’Connor, “The Lame Shall Enter First” PRINT AND READ
Recording of Flannery O’Connor at Notre Dame, commenting on her approach to writing and reading “A Good Man is Hard to Find” Listen to at least the first part of her describing her approach to understanding the human condition, and, if you like, her subsequent reading of her story in our Hesburgh Library Reserve site HERE I highly recommend listening to the whole recording.
Alissa Wilkinson, “What Ethan Hawke’s ‘Wildcat’ Gets Right about Flannery O’Connor” PRINT AND READ
Topics: What is O’Connor’s view of the human condition? What does she suggest about the role of human choice in shaping our lives? In her view, what attitude should we have to make life worth living?
As you read the story, ask yourself why or whether the differences between her image of Hell and Sartre’s are greater than the similarities.
Bring a physical copy of this story to class.
Paragraph assignment:
“Is O’Connor’s view of the human condition more like Sartre’s view or that of the Catholic Catechism?”
Write a seamless paragraph in which you take a stand on this question. Your paragraph should have three features:
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- You should say what it means to pose a question about the human condition (no more than one sentence).
- You should state the arguments for each description of the humann condition (ie., favoring Sartre or the Cathechism). No more than three sentences for each.
- Then you should state which side you choose and (very briefly) why you take this stand. No more than two sentences.
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Don’t worry if your thoughts aren’t fully formulated about “the human condition.” The idea is simply to work through a complex subject.
7. Tuesday, February 4: LIBRARY VISIT, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Learning is as much about looking at something as about reading and listening.
Today: We will meet in the Special Collections room, first floor of Hesburgh Library.
An excursus into depictions of Hell, both classical and contemporary, based upon Dante’s Inferno. We will move from the twenty-first century to the fourteenth century and back. Our goal in today’s meeting is to see how artists’ depictions of Hell reflect the circumstances in which they are created.
Notre Dame is a powerhouse in Italian studies and has one of the finest collections of Dante’s Divine Comedy. Julia Schneider, the library’s expert on this collection, will introduce us to visual depictions of Dante’s Inferno.
Assignment: Read the following two Cantos closely. Also, read the commentaries. They will help you understand what’s going on. The better you understand these Cantos, the easier it will be for you to interpret the artistic depictions that we will see. Make sure you bring the Cantos with you.
Canto I: PRINT AND READ
Explanation of what’s going on: READ
Canto Canto XXXIII (betrayal and cannibalism): PRINT AND READ
Explanation of what’s going on: READ
READ: Is Hell Real? Two-thirds of Americans say “yes.” If Hell isn’t real, why would a smart guy like Dante say it is?
Bring physical copies of the two Cantos to this meeting in the library. I will expect you to ask Dr. Schneider specific questions about the text.
8. Thursday, February 6: The First Great Debate!
TBA
Your First Essay Assignment WILL BE AROUND HERE
9. Tuesday, February 11
I will not hold our regular class today. Instead, I would like to give all of you the opportunity to talk with me about your papers. I will be in my office from 9:30 – 11:30. I suggest that you bring a draft of your introductory paragraph for us to discuss. I will also hold my regular office hours during the week (see Requirements page).
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Please leave your technology at home. It is distracting. It inhibits learning.