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COURSE: HEBREW STUDIES 401
SURVEY OF MODERN HEBREW LITERATURE
Fall 2008
Instructor: Prof. Rachel F. Brenner
1354 Van Hise
tel. 262-6102
e-mail: brenner@wisc.edu
Classes: MWF 1:20-2:10
Office Hours: Wednesday and Friday 2.15-3.15, or by appointment
MAJOR THEMES
1. Introduction - What is a living language?
2. The Biblical view – The story of the Tower of Babel
3. The European Enlightenment -- Emmanuel Kant
4. Haskalah and the revival of Hebrew – Moses Mendelssohn
5. Modern Hebrew Literature Y. L. Gordon, Tchernichovsky, Bialik.
6. The collapse of the Haskalah ideal and the beginning of Zionism:
Theodor Herzl.
Objectives: We shall focus on developing the skills of reading, discussing, and writing in the context of the studied texts. Comprehension of the influence of the historical process of the European Enlightenment on the Haskhalah and the ensuing revival of the Hebrew language and Modern Hebrew literature is the conceptual focus of the course. The course also examines the role Modern Hebrew literature played in shaping the Zionist movement.
Requirements:
This is an intensive writing course. Exact directions concerning
submission of the assignments will be given in the first class of the
term. The students will pick up graded papers before each class. There
is always the option of correcting the assignment and
improving the grade. The corrected assignment must be
handed in within a week. You have the opportunity to discuss the
assignments before class time, since I am in class well ahead of time
to answer students’ questions. In addition to regular homework
assignments, a mid-term essay special lecture assignments, and the
final essay are mandatory. The students are required to sign up for
three presentations - summaries of previous classes, and three
presentations of current issues.
Please Note: Attendance and participation in class on regular basis are important components of the final grade. Our classes start exactly at 1:20 and students are expected to be on time. You are expected to inform me of any planned lateness or absence ahead of time.
Grading (the distribution is approximate and is
subject to change)
Written assignments - 35%
Mid-term essay - 15%
Lecture Assignments - 10%
Final essay – 25%
Participation (including presentations): - 15%
Required Text: Multi-Dictionary: Bilingual Learners’ Dictionary and Oxford English-Hebrew Dictionary
Other texts will be distributed in class.
Please write the check for $25 for the photocopy expenses to The Dept.
of Hebrew and Semitic Studies.
Please note: There won’t be classes on Nov. 19, 21, 24, and 26.
Instead the students are expected to attend the lectures listed below and write a report on each lecture:
“The Great Code: Greek Bible and the Humanities”
Professor Peter Gentry
Monday, September 22nd – 7:30 pm – Grainger Hall, 975 University Avenue
"Biography, Fathers and Exile: German and Jewish Tensions and
the Writing of History"
Professor Steven E. Aschheim
Wednesday, October 22nd - 4 pm - Pyle Center
"The Melting Pot: A Centennial Look Back at Israel
Zangwill's Play"
Professor Meri-Jane Rochelson
Wednesday, November 12th - 4 pm - Pyle Center