ENGL 2111

World Literature 1

World Literature I explores foundational texts from antiquity, focusing on the major genres of the period—epic and tragedy—and their lasting influence on global literary traditions. Through close readings of works such as Gilgamesh, the Homeric epics, and selections from Sophocles, Euripides, and Ovid, this course examines how these ancient texts grapple with enduring human questions: What does it mean to lead a meaningful life? How do individuals navigate relationships, power, and fate? How do cultural values shape our understanding of justice, heroism, and mortality?

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By emphasizing the relevance of these works to contemporary issues and personal concerns, ENGL 2111 encourages students to reflect on how themes such as identity, resilience, and the search for purpose intersect with their own lives. Rather than surveying a vast array of literature, this course takes a focused approach, engaging deeply with a select few works to foster critical thinking, analytical skills, and an appreciation for the timeless power of storytelling.

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Humanities area

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content and support students’ broad academic and career goals.

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

• How do I interpret the human experience through creative, linguistic, and philosophical works?

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

• Students will effectively analyze and interpret the meaning, cultural significance, and ethical implications of literary/philosophical texts or of works in the visual/performing arts.

Course content, activities, and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

• Ethical Reasoning
• Information Literacy
• Intercultural Competence

Sections

Term	CRN	Class	Day and Time	Room
Spring 2025	24045	ENGL 2111.02	Online ⚠️	-
	23040	ENGL 2111.06	Online ⚠️	-
Fall 2024	81636	ENGL 2111.05	Online ⚠️	-
Summer 2024	50113	ENGL 2111.04	Online ⚠️	-
Spring 2024	21548	ENGL 2111.01	Online ⚠️	-
	21592	ENGL 2111.04	Online ⚠️ 2nd	-
Fall 2023	82297	ENGL 2111.05	Online ⚠️	-
	82830	ENGL 2111.11	Online ⚠️	-
Summer 2023	50116	ENGL 2111.04	Online ⚠️	-
Spring 2023	20877	ENGL 2111.05	«Canceled»
	21895	ENGL 2111.01	Online ⚠️	-
	22512	ENGL 2111.13	Online ⚠️	-
Fall 2022	80506	ENGL 2111.03	MW 12:30-13:45	SOAL-216
	81312	ENGL 2111.05	Online ⚠️	-
	82063	ENGL 2111.18	Online ⚠️	-
Summer 2022	55542	ENGL 2111.07	Online ⚠️	-
Spring 2022	23909	ENGL 2111.05	MW 9:30-10:45	SoAL-206
	25264	ENGL 2111.01	Online ⚠️	D2L ➭
Fall 2021	83647	ENGL 2111.03	MW 11-12:15	SoAL-218
	83634	ENGL 2111.15	Online ⚠️	D2L ➭
Spring 2021	20503	ENGL 2111.21	Online ⚠️	D2L ➭
	21304	ENGL 2111.06	Online ⚠️ 2nd	D2L ➭
Fall 2020	80701	ENGL 2111.03	MW 11-12:15 (H-OL ⚠️)	TEB-231
	80702	ENGL 2111.04	TR 11-12:15 (H-OL ⚠️)	SoAL-222
Spring 2020	25677	ENGL 2111.11	MW 11-12:15	CoAS-210

Resources

• Epic Poetry: The Epic of Gilgamesh; Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey
• Greek Tragedy: Sophocles’ Oedipus the King; Euripides’ Medea
• Ovid’s Metamorphoses
• Online Lessons — be sure to consult your syllabus before completing any o these lessons.

Sample Exam Questions

1. Gilgamesh and the Homeric epics are concerned with periods of expansion: i.e., when peoples are struggling to build their nations, both literally and ideologically. Discuss similarities in these three works in what seems to be necessary in building a strong nation and national identity.
2. Discuss and illustrate the theme of hospitality and its importance to the social structure in the Odyssey.
3. Discuss the implications of Odysseus as narrator in Book 9-12 of the Odyssey.
4. In the Poetics, Aristotle cites Oedipus the King as exemplifying the best of tragedy. Discuss how Oedipus the King defines and illustrates what we know as tragedy.
5. Many have called Euripides an “iconoclast,” not in a literal sense, but suggesting that his work seems to break the conservative icons of his society; for example: tradition, hierarchy, belief, etc. Examine his iconoclasm citing specific instances from Medea.
6. Scholars frequently define an Ovidian concept of love as one that lives “close to the flesh,” suggesting that love in Ovid’s work is really just lust or desire. Discuss the implications of this view on those who love and those who are loved in at least three tales from The Metamorphoses.