GBS IV is the fourth of the six required core seminars in the Liberal Studies in the Great Books major. It is also a philosophy elective for non-majors. The purpose of the course is to study and understand the thoughts of some significant contributors to the intellectual life of Western Civilization during that historical period known as the Renaissance (roughly 1400-1700 AD).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Class participation. The principle methodology of this course is a disciplined discussion of the reading assignments. Studious and careful analytical reading of the assigned texts is absolutely necessary for successful participation in class discussions. There will be no lectures. It is the role of the professor to act as a facilitator for the class discussions. While the professor will initiate and encourage class discussions, it remains the responsibility of each student to engage his/her classmates in serious discussion by offering insights, challenging interpretations, and raising questions about the readings. Attendance at all class meetings is mandatory, but attendance does not constitute participation.

2. Reports. There will be two written reports that will be presented in class. The first will be a discussion of an assigned reading from Essays by Michel de Montaigne and will be due on Thursday, October 24. The second will be a discussion of an assigned section from Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes and will be due on Tuesday, November 26. More detailed information about these reports will be provided later in the semester.

3. Final Examination. An oral final examination of one half hour in length will be administered at scheduled times on the morning of Wednesday, December 18. This will be a comprehensive exam of all the material on the Reading Schedule.

Class participation 40%

Essays 40% (20% each)

Final exam 20%

Numerical grades will be assigned to all work. The correspondence between numerical and letter grades is as follows:

OFFICE HOURS

Monday, 8:30-11:30AM

And by appointment

My office is 310 Bradley House. My phone extension is 7259. My email address is jfortin@anselm.edu. On-campus mail can be addressed to Fr. John c/o Monastery.

THE AUTHORS

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola 1463-1494

Niccolò Machiavelli 1469-1527

Saint Thomas More 1478-1535

Desiderius Erasmus 1466-1536

Martin Luther 1483-1546

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne 1533-1592

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 1547-1615

Sir Francis Bacon 1561-1626

Galileo Galilei 1564-1642

William Shakespeare 1564-1616

John Milton 1608-1674

READING SCHEDULE

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed."

Sir Francis Bacon

September

3 Introduction

5 Mirandola, Oration on the Dignity of Man (handout)

10 Machiavelli, The Prince, cc 1-13

12 Machiavelli, The Prince, cc 14-26

17 More, Utopia, Book I

19 More, Utopia, Book II

24 Shakespeare, Richard III, Acts i-ii

26 Shakespeare, Richard III, Acts iii-v

October

1 Luther, A Commentary on St. Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (pp 99-165)

3 Luther, Sermons (pp 207-248)

8 Erasmus, In Praise of Folly, sections 1-34

10 Erasmus, In Praise of Folly, sections 35-68

17 Shakespeare, King Lear, acts i-iii

22 Shakespeare, King Lear, acts iv-v

24 Class presentations of Montaigne's Essays

29 Class presentations of Montaigne's Essays

31 Montaigne, Essays, "On the Education of Children"

November

5 Bacon, The New Organon, Preface and Book I-numbers 1-77

7 Bacon, The New Organon, Book I-numbers 92-103; Book II-numbers 11-13

12 Galileo, The Starry Messenger

14 Galileo, The Assayer

19 Shakespeare, The Tempest, Acts i-ii

21 Shakespeare, The Tempest, Acts iii-v

26 Class presentations on Cervantes, Don Quixote

December

3 Class presentations on Cervantes, Don Quixote

5 Milton, Paradise Lost, Books I-IV

10 Milton, Paradise Lost, Books V-VIII

12 Milton, Paradise Lost, Books IX-XII

18 Final Examination

MONTAIGNE REPORT AND CLASS PRESENTATION

Each student will prepare a report on an assigned essay by Montaigne for presentation in class on October 24 and 29. Your specific assigned essay is attached to this sheet. Be sure to bring two copies of your report to class on October 24: one to submit to me; the other to retain for your presentation.

Your report is to be comprised of three elements.

1. An explanation of the content of the essay: what is the subject matter; what are the specific points that Montaigne makes on the subject; what conclusions he draw?
2. An explanation of the style of his discussion: what evidence, if any, does he use to support his position; does he use examples; does he cite literary sources or authoritative sources; is he primarily relying on his personal experience?
3. Your opinion as to the merits of Montaigne's views expressed in the essay: is he convincing; are you convinced; is what he has to say true; of what value is it to write such essays?

Please observe the following form requirements.

a. Printed on white 8.5" x 11" paper.

b. Typed in a standard font (e.g. New Times Roman) no larger than 12 point.

d. One inch margins (right/left and top/bottom).

e. Pages numbered after page one.

f. Pages attached in the upper left-hand corner with a staple or paper clip.

h. Carefully proofread and edited (yes, spelling, punctuation and grammar do count).

Timetable.

October 10 Distribution of assignments

October 17 Class discussion of Shakespeare's King Lear, Acts i-iii

October 22 Class discussion of Shakespeare's King Lear, Acts iv-v

October 24 All reports due; class presentations begin

October 29 Class presentations continue

October 31 Class discussion on Montaigne's "On the Education of Children"

REMINDER: Be sure to make two copies of your report for class on October 24.

CERVANTES REPORT AND CLASS PRESENTATION

Each student will prepare a report on an assigned passage from Cervantes' Don Quixote for presentation in class on November 26 and December 3. Your specific assigned passage is attached to this sheet. Be sure to bring two copies of your report to class on November 26: one to submit to me; the other to retain for your presentation.

The object of this exercise is for the class first to develop a composite portrait of the character Don Quixote from the various episodes that are examined and second to form an understanding of Cervantes' intent and purpose in the novel.

Your report is to be comprised of three elements.

1. A summary of the plot: what happens to Don Quixote and Sancho in the episode(s) you read.
2. A presentation of the character of Don Quixote as it emerges in those episodes: his motives, his intentions, his strengths and weaknesses, his relationship with other characters.
3. A presentation on themes and symbols that appear to be significant for understanding Don Quixote: themes such as chivalry, honesty, courage, sanity/insanity, etc.; symbols such as books, armor, the journey, windmills, etc.

Please observe the following form requirements.

a. Printed on white 8.5" x 11" paper.

b. Typed in a standard font (e.g. New Times Roman) no larger than 12 point.

d. One inch margins (right/left and top/bottom).

e. Pages numbered after page one.

f. Pages attached in the upper left-hand corner with a staple or paper clip.

h. Carefully proofread and edited (yes, spelling, punctuation and grammar do count).

Timetable.

November 14 Distribution of assignments

November 14 Galileo, The Assayer

November 19 Shakespeare, The Tempest, Acts i-ii

November 21 Shakespeare, The Tempest, Acts iii-v

November 26 All reports due; class presentations begin

December 3 Class presentations continue

REMINDER: Be sure to make two copies of your report for class on November 26.