Discworld Fantasy

Terry Pratchett - A Second Shakespeare?

The program participants will read three of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series and engage in lively and deathly discussions about philosophy, history and other literally criticized theoretical disputes.

Two papers will be written by the participants, the first on literature and satire in which each individual will come to an understanding of their personal definitions of literature.  The second paper will demand research and examination of theme and literary reference found in a Pratchett novel of their choice.

Faculty will provide high tea in L-Space (the Library) once each week.

 1st Week:

Tuesday July 29th

            Readings Due :  (Prior to Class) :

            Sawyer’ s chapter  “The Librarian and His Domain” in Terry Pratchett Guilty of Literature.  p. 66-82.

            Foster, Thomas C. How to Read Literature Like a Professor. pp 1-116

            Activities:

            Program Introduction and Expectations

                        Library Workshop

Wednesday, July 30th   

            Readings Due :

            Pratchett, Terry.  Eric (Faust)

            Activities :

                        Seminar on How to Read Literature Like a Professor. pp 1-116

                        Watch Faust movie.

2nd Week

Tuesday, August 5th

            Articles relating to theme (student researched)

            Activities :

                        Seminar on Eric (Faust)

                        Lecture on Faust by Charles B. Teske, professor emeritus TESC

Wednesday, August 6th

            Readings Due :

                        Pratchett. Wyrd Sisters

            Activities :

                        Watch Movie MacBeth - Orson Welles

Seminar on  Wyrd Sisters led by Christopher Stilson

3rd Week

Tuesday, August 12th

            Readings Due :  

            James, Edward “The City Watch” in Terry Pratchett Guilty of Literature.

            Pratchett, Terry. Jingo

            Activities :

            Find article relating to themes (student researched)

            Watch Movie   Savage Acts

Wednesday, August 13th

            Readings Selection Due :

            Pratchett, Terry.  (Novel of Student’s choice - can be from other than the Discworld series.  Students to form groups based on main characters of the books chosen)

            Activities :     

            Seminar on Jingo

            Student Presentation of Article from current events

            Turn in paper relating to article on jingoism.

           

4th Week

Tuesday, August 19th

            Readings Due :  

                        Butler, Andrew.  “Theories of Humour” in Terry Pratchett Guilty of Literature.

            Foster, Thomas.  How to Read Literature Like a Professor.  pp 117 - 245.

            Activities :

                        Seminar on assigned readings

            Short paper relating “Theories of Humor” to topics in How to Read Literature Like a Professor

                        Library research for final paper

Wednesday, August 20th

            Readings Due :

            Student’s selected Pratchett Novel

            Activities :

                        Round Robin seminar on Pratchett book of own choice

                        Students grouped by theme

                        Bring rough drafts of final paper for student peer group editing session

5th Week

Tuesday, August 26th

Readings Due :

            Hill, Penelope. “Unseen University” in Terry Pratchett Guilty of Literature.

            Activities :

            Seminar on relationship/comparison between Unseen University and TESC

Wednesday, August 27th

            Readings Due :

            (Using L- Space and Brother Brutha’s reading technique a (see Pratchett. Small Gods))

            Library of Congress Collection

                        Seattle Public Library Collection

                        The Evergreen State College Library Collection

            Activities :

            Group presentations of Final student papers on Pratchett’s works as literature (or history or philosophy, etc. etc. etc.)