Class-by-Class Schedule

Course Introduction
F, 1/11: Introduction

M, 1/14: What is spirituality?
   What is mysticism?
   Why should we care?
   Read Evelyn Underhill, chapter one, "The Point of Departure" (Internet Reading)

Early Notions of Mysticism and Spirituality
W, 1/16: Pre-Judaeo Christian Conceptions of Mysticism, no reading
   The Earliest Mysticisms: Greek
    Read Plontius, "Third Tractate: On Dialectic"(Internet Reading)
F, 1/18: The Earliest Mysticisms: Celtic
    "Pangur Ban," (Internet Reading)
    A look at the Book of Kells

M, 1/21: No Classes: Martin Luther King , Jr. Day
W, 1/23: The Bible–The Grounds For Judeo-Christian Mysticism
    Read "Genesis 1-3" (Internet Reading)
F, 1/25: Monasticism and the Desert Fathers: Paul
    "The Life of St. Paul the First Hermit" (Internet Reading)

Medieval Mysticism: The Male Perspective
M, 1/28: Richard Rolle, The Fire of Love, read Introduction
W, 1/30: Rolle, chapters 1-12
F, 2/1: Rolle, chapters 12-34

M, 2/4: Rolle, chapters 35-42

Medieval Mysticism: The Female Perspective
W, 2/6: **Objective Quiz One
    Hildegard of Bingen, Mystical Writings, skim through the introduction in part one
    Reading on "Allegory," handout
F, 2/8: HB, 68-84

M, 2/11: HB, 90-107
W, 2/13: HB, 127-29
    In-class discussion of Hildegard’s illuminations, in-class slide presentation

The Search for Inner Peace: Hamlet
F, 2/15: Introduction to Shakespeare and related topics, begin reading Hamlet

M, 2/18: No Classes: Presidents’ Day
W, 2/20: Hamlet
F, 2/22: Hamlet

M, 2/25: Hamlet
W, 2/27: Hamlet
F, 3/1: Hamlet
    **First Short Paper Due

M, 3/4: Hamlet
W, 3/6: Hamlet
F, 3/8: **Midterm Examination

M, 3/11-F, 3/15: No Classes: Spring Break

M, 3/18: In-class viewing of Act 5, Kenneth Branagh’s "Hamlet"
W, 3/20: Midterm Examination
F, 3/22: This Class Will Not Meet

Spirituality in the Post-War World: Nothing
W, 4/3: Read Paul Valery, "Note (or The European)," on reserve in the library (read and copy)
    Read D.H. Lawrence, "We Need One Another," on reserve in the library (read and copy)
    **Objective Quiz #2
F, 4/5: Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Act 1

M, 4/15: Guest Lecturer: Anne C. Klein "Buddhism and the Body: It's Not All in the Mind After All"
W, 4/17: Film, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead"
F, 4/19: Film, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead"
    **Essay Two Due

M, 4/22: Film, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead"

M, 4/29: Coehlo, Pilgrimage
W, 5/1: Coehlo, Pilgrimage
F, 5/3: Coehlo, Pilgrimage
    Last Class
    **Objective Quiz #3
    Final Exam Review