WR 100 D2 Instructor: Christine Kraemer (chk@bu.edu)
MWF 11-12, KCB 104 Office Hours: MW 1-3, 145 BSR #301
The line between religious and
sexual ecstasy is a fine one. From the biblical Song of Songs to the poetry of
the Muslim mystic Rumi, religious writers around the
world have blurred love for the divine with desire for a human beloved. In the
past few hundred years, however, this blurring has not always been seen as
positive. During the eighteenth-century religious revival known as the first
Great Awakening, we find theologians such as Jonathan Edwards carefully
policing the line between religious fervor and erotic desire. Edwards warned
worshippers against engaging in physical affection while being swept up by
religious zeal, lest their “Christian love” turn to “brutish lust.”
This wariness lingers in the
This course will explore the
relationship between religion and sexuality in literature and media both
historically and in the contemporary period, focusing on the
Blake, William. The
Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1790)
Eller, Cynthia. Am I A
Woman?: A Skeptic’s Guide to Gender (2003)
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The
Scarlet Letter (1850)
Lawrence, D.H. The Man Who
Died (1931)
Shange, Ntozake. for colored girls who have considered suicide when
the rainbow is enuf (1975)
Thompson, Craig. Blankets (2003)
Kirszner & Mandell, The Concise
Behn, Aphra.“To
the Fair Clarinda”
Donne, John. “Batter my Heart, Three-Personed God”
Excerpts from the New Testament (Luke and John, RSV)
Morey, Janine. Religion and Sexuality in
American Literature. [selections]
Smith, Jonathan Z. “Religion, Religions, Religious.” From Critical Terms for Religious Studies, ed. Mark C.
Taylor.
Whitman, Walt. “Song of
Myself,” Leaves of Grass (1855) [selections]
Class attendance is required.
Each student will be allowed three unexcused absences; further absences will
result in a lower grade for the class (1/3 of a letter grade for every class
missed after three). In the event of illness or emergency, the student is
responsible for promptly contacting the instructor with documentation after
returning to school.
In order to be considered on
time, assignments and papers must be received in class. Electronic copies of
papers will be accepted only when arranged with the instructor in advance. Electronic
submissions must include the paper in .DOC or .RTF format as well as a
plain-text copy of the paper in the body of the e-mail. Late papers may
be turned in to my box at the
Please complete the weekly
assigned sections in the grammar handbook before class on Monday in
order to be prepared for in-class grammar worksheets and the occasional pop
quiz. Assigned readings are to be completed before class on the day for which
they are listed.
The final deadline for
changing or adding all WR courses is Tuesday, Sept. 12 at
Attendance and participation: 10%
Short writing assignments and
quizzes: 15%
Essay #1 and revision: 15%
Essay #2 and revision: 20%
Essay #3 and revision: 25%
Oral presentations: 10%
BUWA exit exam: 5%
Extra credit opportunity: Study at a college level will challenge you to
comprehend difficult readings. It is recommended that you keep a reading diary to
make note of key phrases and ideas, ask questions about difficult passages, summarize arguments or plotlines, and record personal
reflections on the material. Thorough reading diaries that cover the entire
semester’s worth of material may be handed in with the final paper for up to
two extra points on the final grade.
You will receive a copy of
the rubric with which I will be evaluating your essays. Please note that
The BU Undergraduate
Academic Conduct Code defines plagiarism in the following terms: “Representing
the work of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the
following: copying the answers of another student on an examination, copying or
restating the work or ideas of another person or persons in any oral or written
work (printed or electronic) without citing the appropriate source, and
collaborating with someone else in an academic endeavor without acknowledging
his or her contribution. Plagiarism can consist of acts of commission –
appropriating the words or ideas of another – or omission – failing to
acknowledge/document/credit the source or creator of words or ideas.”
Words and ideas are the most
valuable things that scholars have. In an environment dedicated to learning,
thinking and writing, taking someone else’s work and presenting it as your own
is a terrible offense. Plagiarism is absolutely forbidden in this course and at
You are responsible for
reading the Academic Conduct Code and understanding what counts as plagiarism.
Extra copies are available at the
You will be required to
attend one conference with me in my office hours early in the semester. You are
also welcome to visit me in my office hours on Monday or Wednesday from 1-3,
set up an in-person appointment at another time, or contact me by e-mail for
extra help. In addition, the
Week 1
Smith,
“Religion, Religions, Religious” (269-284)
Monday, September 11 – Eller,
Am I A Woman? (1-39)
Wednesday, September 13 – Eller,
Am I A Woman? (66-94)
Friday, September 15 – Eller,
Am I A Woman? (124-136)
Assignment
due: Summary
Monday, September 18 – Morey,
Religion and Sexuality in American Literature (selections)
Wednesday, September 20 – Behn, “To the Fair Clarinda” (courseinfo)
Friday, September 22 – Donne,
“Batter my Heart, Three-Personed God” (courseinfo)
Assignment due: Explication
Monday, September 25 – Blake,
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (1-43)
Wednesday,
September 27 – Blake, cont.
Monday, October 2 –
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter chapters 1-3
Wednesday, October 4 –
Hawthorne, chapters 4-7
Friday, October 6 –
Hawthorne, chapters 8-10
Tuesday, October 10 (Monday
Schedule) – Hawthorne, chapters 11-13
Wednesday, October 11 –
Hawthorne, chapters 14-15
Friday, October 13 –
Hawthorne, chapters 16-19
Monday, October 16 – Hawthorne,
chapters 20-22
Grammar Quiz #1
Wednesday, October 18 – Hawthorne,
chapters 23-24
Friday, October 20 – Whitman,
selections from “Song of Myself” (courseinfo)
Monday, October 23 –
Lawrence, The Man Who Died (3-38); New Testament excerpts (courseinfo)
Wednesday,
October 25 –
Friday,
October 27 –
Monday, October 30 –
Lawrence, The Man Who Died (41-85)
Wednesday,
November 1 –
Friday, November 3 – Shange, for colored girls who have considered suicide… (ix-xvi)
Assignment
due: Second Paper
Monday, November 6 – Shange, for colored girls who have considered suicide…(1-64)
Wednesday,
November 8 – Shange, for colored girls who have
considered suicide…cont.
Friday, November 10 (No
Class)
Monday,
November 13 – Shange, for colored girls who have
considered suicide…cont.
Wednesday, November 15 –
Thompson, Blankets (8-65)
Revision
due: Second paper
Friday, November 17 –
Thompson (66-129)
Monday, November 20 –
Thompson (130-261)
Wednesday, November 22 (No
Class)
Friday, November 24 (No
Class)
Monday, November 27 –
Thompson (262-447)
Grammar
Quiz #2
Wednesday, November 29 –
Thompson (448-582)
Friday,
December 1 – Thompson cont.
Assignment
due: Third paper
Monday, December 4 – Film: Hedwig
and the Angry Inch
Wednesday, December 6 – Film:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Friday, December 8 – BUWA
Monday, December 12 –
Conclusions and evaluations
Revision due: Third paper