English R1B

Other Readings and Media

"Frayn: Copenhagen

Friel: Translations

Patchett: Bel Canto

Woolf: To the Lighthouse

Course Reader "

Description

"This course brings together a series of literary texts which focus around acts of translation or interpretation in some fashion. We will begin the course thinking about linguistic translation and will use that as a foundation for discussion of other varieties of mediation: cultural, generational, personal, disciplinary. Throughout the semester we will consider the figure of the go-between, that individual who is responsible for negotiating between two people or groups. We will consider the problematics of this role (what are the moral obligations of such a liminal position? what are the duties and loyalties one has to each group? how does intention and bias affect one?s ability to interpret?) in the hopes of determining what is lost?and gained?in the act of translation.



It is my hope that thinking about the act of interpretation will make us more critical writers and readers. The primary focus of this course is the development of your writing and research skills. Expect frequent writing assignments, short essays, and a longer research essay. You will also be required to revise everything you write, and to peer-edit the work of your classmates. "