Except where otherwise noted, read or watch all assignments before coming to class on the dates below. DLD = Discussion Leader Day
| Tu Aug 20 | Course Introduction |
| Love and Wit | |
| Th Aug 22 | Sir Philip Sydney Sonnet 1 Shakespeare Sonnets 18, 29, 73, 130 |
| Tu Aug 27 | John Donne, “The Flea,” “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning” |
| Th Aug 29 | Andrew Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress” Annie Finch, “Coy Mistress” |
| Tu Sept 3 | Aphra Behn, “The Willing Mistress,” “Love Armed,” “The Disappointment” Emily Dickinson, “I Started Early” |
| Gothic Love | |
| Th Sept 5 | Watch before class: “Basic Film Analysis” Watch in class: Black Mirror Episode–Be Right Back (Netflix 2.1–written by Charlie Brooker; directed by Owen Harris) |
| Tu Sept 10 | Watch before class: “How to Analyze a Shot” Continue Be Right Back DLD–Tatum Brennan, Kelly Furlong, Bella Mitlo, Josie Elia |
| Th Sept 12 | Joyce Carol Oates, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” DLD–Grace Bryan, Ellora Geiger, Sam Morrow, Audrey Slaughter, Ella Gorga |
| Tu Sept 17 | Carmen Maria Machado, “The Husband Stitch” DLD–Katie Cole, Ava Kull, Jen Mullaly, Cassie Smith, Grace Harvey |
| Th Sept 19 | Read before class: “A Short List of Film Terms” Film—Edward Scissorhands (written by Caroline Thompson and Tim Burton; directed by TimBurton) |
| Tu Sept 24 | Continue Edward Scissorhands |
| Th Sept 26 | Final Discussion of Edward Scissorhands DLD–Avery D’Andrea, Brelin Hogan, Emma Naumann, Bethany Whitehouse |
| Tu Oct 1 | Exam 1 |
| Troubled Love | |
| Th Oct 3 | Robert Browning, “My Last Duchess” Edna St. Vincent Millay, “What lips my lips have kissed,” “Time does not bring relief,” “Oh, oh, you will be sorry” |
| Tu Oct 8 | Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour,” “Desiree’s Baby” DLD–Katie Davison, Lucie Makar, Ash Netterville, |
| Th Oct 10 | Zora Neale Hurston, “The Gilded Six Bits” Jhumpa Lahiri, “A Temporary Matter” DLD–Sara Frances Evette, Cayden Mcclure, Virginia Partrich, Josie Elia |
| Tu Oct 15 | Sandra Cisneros, “Woman Hollering Creek” Bobbie Ann Mason, “Shiloh” DLD–Paul Franklin, Ellora Geiger, Ashlynn Robinson, Drew Pagliaro |
| Th Oct 17 | Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants” DLD–Tatum Brennan, Avery Greene, Sam Morrow, John John Weed |
| Tu Oct 22 | Exam 2 |
| Forbidden Desire | |
| Th Oct 24 | Elizabeth Acevedo, The Poet X (through p. 160) DLD–Katie Cole, Kelly Furlong, Emma Naumann, Bethany Whitehouse, Grace Young |
| Tu Oct 29 | Continue The Poet X (finish book) DLD–Grace Bryan, Ava Kull, Ella Gorga, Grace Harvey |
| Th Oct 31 | Alison Bechdel, Fun Home (Chapters 1-4) DLD–Avery D’Andrea, Katie Davison, Brelin Hogan, Jen Mullaly, Cassie Smith |
| Tu Nov 5 | Fall Break |
| Th Nov 7 | Continue Fun Home (finish book) DLD–Lucie Makar, Ash Netterville, Grace Young, Bella Mitlo |
| Love in the Age of Technology | |
| Tu Nov 12 | Black Mirror Episode—San Junipero (Netflix 3.4) (written by Charlie Brooker; directed by Owen Harris) |
| Th Nov 14 | Continue San Junipero DLD–Paul Franklin, Avery Greene, Virginia Partrich, Audrey Slaughter, Drew Pagliaro |
| Tu Nov 19 | Film: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (written by Charlie Kaufman; directed by Michael Gondry) |
| Th Nov 21 | Continue Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind |
| Tu Nov 26 | Final Discussion of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind DLD–Cayden McClure, Sara-Frances Evette, Ashlynn Robinson, John John Weed Class Wrap-Up; Course Evaluations |
| Th Nov 28 | Thanksgiving |
| Fr Dec 6 | Final Exam 10:30 am-12:30 pm |