Reading Group

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I am currently experimenting with a reading group. We meet through a mailing list and discuss particular works that could have been but cannot be taught in our university. Generally, these works are part of what is called "canonical literature" and is traditionally part of what was once known as a "liberal education".

If you want to avail of this free education and, for current classes, receive extra credit in the process, please go to the mailing lists page and sign up for the reading group.

General Instructions

The URL of the mailing lists page is http://kritikon.net/mailman/listinfo.

The URL of the reading group mailing list page is http://kritikon.net/mailman/listinfo/readinggroup_kritikon.net.

Go to the mailing lists page to see the different lists available. You may subscribe to the announcements list to receive a weekly newsletter containing new content in this site. You may also subscribe to a general forum list to discuss the contents of this site.

To subscribe to the reading group, go to any of the links mentioned above, and visit the reading group mailing list page. Subscribe by entering your e-mail address and then wait for the moderator to approve your request. You will receive confirmation through e-mail.

Once you are subscribed, post your messages to the list. The e-mail address of the reading group is given in the reading group mailing list page.

For Current Students

Note: Post to the reading group, not to the forum or announcement list.

To En 12 current students who want to avail of extra credit, here's what you need to do:

Try to read the assigned books (we will read one a month) and send a short reaction to what you've read to the mailing list at least once a week. You can write anything in your reaction as long as it makes sense and is sufficiently developed.

Reactions and responses in the form of questions or descriptions of bewilderment are strongly encouraged. For example, if you found particular passages confusing or dreary, then feel free to say so. If you have lots of questions, feel free to ask.

We follow an honor code. Please do not cheat by not reading and by copying passages from written commentaries and pretending that they are yours. Please make sure that your reactions are your own. If you are influenced by a particular critic, then mention the critic.

To Lit 14, you need to subscribe to the reading group. However, you will receive credit for participating in the list. That is, respond to reactions given by other members, or post questions or comments besides the required reactions.

For Non-Current Students or Non-Students

To non-current students, you may choose not to post messages, read particular books, or even receive e-mail. Please keep in mind, though, that once activity lessens in the list, then the reading group may expire.

If you did not finish reading the book or can't catch up, then feel free to say so. Even if you are unable to catch up with the readings, remain subscribed to the list and see if you can skip particular sections or catch up later. The important thing is that you still receive some extra credit for your efforts.

If you want to respond to a message poster, feel free to do so.

Note to all subscribers: Please do not file-attach reactions or questions to e-mail. Instead, copy and paste them to the body of the message.

Here are the books that we will be reading:

Dante's Inferno (any translation, but we prefer those by Ciardi, Mandelbaum, or Pinsky), for four weeks starting Nov. 8

Shakespeare's Hamlet, the next four weeks

Milton's Paradise Lost, the next four weeks

Goethe's Faust, Part I, the next four weeks ( preferably translated by Kauffmann or Salm, but any will do)

Feel free to visit the Resources page of this website for links to various sites about the works above.

Next, here are some additional benefits that you might receive if you join us:

I might be able to set up film showing sessions outside class hours for the films that are shown together with the works above (Bergman's The Seventh Seal, de Sica's The Bicycle Thief, Truffaut's 400 Blows, and Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove).

If we can continue the reading group after the semester, perhaps we can read other canonical works (fiction or non-fiction) based on votes or recommendations from members, and show films and documentaries related to some of these works.

Feel free to invite any friends or relatives who might be interested in joining the group.

Finally, feel free to subscribe to our newsletter and discussion forums.