Keyword Syllabus

GE3108

Weeks 1-2

Three histories: critical steps in the evolution of meaning

  • A child's history
  • A language's history
  • A text's history

Week 3

What is metaphor?

Week 4

Verbal Art

  • Poetry: Edwin Thumboo's A poet reading
  • Drama: J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

Weeks 5-6

  • Verbal Science: Newton's Opticks
  • Verbal Art in Scientific discourse: Darwin's Origin of Species
  • Science in Verbal Art: Tennyson's In Memoriam
  • Weeks 7, 9-10

    (Week 7 rescheduled to 27 October, 10:00 - 13:00)
    • Verbal Art in Religious discourse: The Psalms
    • Religion in Verbal Art: Cormac McCarthy's Sunset Limited

    Week 8

    (25 October)
    • Midterm Test (open book)

    Weeks 11-12

    • Verbal Art in Political discourse - Churchill's war-time speeches
    • Politics in Verbal Art - Langston Hughes' Let America be America Again

    Week 13

    The future of language and knowledge

    Final Exam (open book)

    Last updated: 5 September 2018