ENG 257P - Literature and the Sea

Course Description

  • Prerequisite: "C" or higher in ENG 100 OR placement in ENG 209-260

This course examines how the sea functions as a physical, philosophical, and psychological setting. Through close textual analysis, the course explores the symbolic power of the ocean: what does our tropological understanding of the sea reveal about humanity? Is the sea a metaphor for predominantly feminine or masculine imagery? How do descriptions of the sea change according to culture and economic system?

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of ENG 257P, the student will be able to:

  • Focus on the interaction between and among cultures as reflected in the use of the sea as a site for topological production
  • Recognize the universality in human experience, as well as the qualities that make a particular culture distinct
  • Write papers on different literary problems related to cross-cultural perspectives on the sea as metaphor