HUAS80051 - Reading Prometheus Bound and Frankenstein … Twice!

Course Description

Although Mary Shelley subtitled her most famous work “The Modern Prometheus,” few modern readers consider her novel in light of its ancient antecedent. This course will explore the full significance of Shelley’s Frankenstein by reading it closely in conjunction with a close reading of Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound. We’ll use the strategy laid out in Mortimer Adler’s classic How to Read a Book of reading each work once quickly to get an overview and then again more slowly to figure out the details as we attempt to understand each work in its own right as well as the relationships between them. Prior or concurrent participation in How to Read Classic Texts or equivalent experience is recommended. Students may wish to review Adler and Van Doren’s How to Read a Book prior to, or concurrent with, this course. Please complete the assigned “inspectional” skim readings for Week 1 before the first class.

Course Outline

Course Syllabus

Notes

Online registration deadline: Dec. 22, 5 PM CT

Remote courses require you to login to Canvas to access the Zoom Classroom. You will receive an invitation to join Canvas about a week before your course begins. Please visit the Liberal Arts Student Resources page to find step by step instructions for Canvas and Zoom: Online Learning Resources