ENGLISH 111:

GEOGRAPHIES OF HELL

Spring 2007

Instructor: Andy Fitzgerald

Office & Hours: Lewis Annex ("the doubletall") 202,
Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:30-1:20 and by appointment.

Geographies of Hell. In this course we will read, discuss and interpret literary representations of hell over several centuries. Our in-class discussions and readings will serve as a starting point or pivot from which to articulate your own arguments--be they about Hell, or about the world in which we live from day to day. Don't worry if this sounds a little vague: Hell is a big place--I want you to have the freedom to engage paper topics that matter to you (within reason, of course).

Please note: This is NOT a "Sacred Texts as Literature" course. Unless you're a pagan (or perhaps an existentialist), you'll notice that there are no sacred texts on the reading list. You will have the opportunity during the course to expand beyond this reading list, but please be prepared to engage critically with (question, counter, challenge) any texts that make their way into your writing.

Course readings will include the following: Dante's Inferno, Sartre's No Exit, Camus's "The Myth of Sisyphus," and Lewis's The Screwtape Letters.

This site. This is where to find announcements, resources, and out of class writing assignments for English 111h, spring quarter 2007:

Any questions or concerns regarding this class or web site should be directed to Andy Fitzgerald. In order to minimize any spam-bot related catastrophes, I have not posted my email address directly in these web pages. The above "Email Andy" link will connect you to the address I check daily. Students will be given my direct email address on the first day of class.