Welcome to English 120: Self and Shadow

The moment we walk out the front doors of our homes and apartments, we enter the world of social expectations. Our entire journey to adulthood is filled with their study -- we must first learn language, then how to speak properly to parents, teachers, and playmates; at school, we learn to sit attentively at our desks, and not to make noise in libraries. Later, to get our drivers' licenses, we learn the rules of the road, and in our workplaces we learn to follow the guidelines laid down by our supervisors. Our life is so rule-bound, indeed, that it's no wonder we need release at the end of the day, whether that comes in the form of food, entertainment, or just relaxation. Yet  are those enough? What unfulfilled wishes, what resentments, what cravings are left for our shadows to pursue?

In this class, we'll look at the way a number of different literary writers have represented this world of shadows. We'll begin with one of the first and most potent of these tales, Hans Christian Andersen's "The Shadow." Next, it's Edgar Allan Poe, whose contributions to this tradition include such macabre tales as "Descent into the Maelstrom" and "Manuscript Found in a Bottle." We'll wrap up our first three weeks with Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Ryme of the Ancient Mariner," a tale told by a madman, but signifying a great deal!

After that we'll turn our attention to another early tale, E.T.A. Hoffman's original "Sandman," a far more disturbing figure than either the innocent 1950's version of "Mr. Sandman" or the comic/graphic novel versions of the twentieth century. Then, there comes a ghost -- summoned accidentally, but no matter -- in the M.R. James's classic "Whistle and I'll come to you," along with its brilliant television adaptation by Jonathan Miller. Lastly, we'll take on the work of America's greatest writer of the surreal, Shirley Jackson, particularly the very last stories she completed, many of which touch on this theme of welcome -- or unwelcome -- doubleness. 

Wherever possible, our readings will be made available freely, as will our viewings, though in a few cases you will need to order the book or rent a movie from a streaming service. In addition to the online responses in our discussion, there will be a formal final paper of 4-6 pages in length, on a text or film of your choosing from among those we've read or seen as part of the class.