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IAP 2008

bookmarked pagesThe Literature Faculty regularly sponsors activities (both for-credit and non-credit) during IAP that are open to students and the MIT community at large. Subjects offered for credit (under the general subject number 21L.995) vary in topic and focus, but require regular attendance and participation. Other sponsored activities are flexible: people can drop in and out as they choose.

All activities for IAP 2008 are briefly described on this page. Please contact the Literature Section Headquarters (14N-407) should you need further information.

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Subjects Offered for Credit Subjects Offered for Credit

21L.995 Special Topics in Literature
Reading "Paradise Lost"

Instructor: Mary Fuller

TR 7:00 - 9:00pm
Dates: Jan 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31
Location: 14N-112

In this 3-unit class, we will read Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost. The goal of the class is for students to come away feeling comfortable with its language and argument; meeting in a small group will also allow us to talk about the key questions and issues raised by the poem. This reading course is open to all, but it is particularly designed to complement 21L.705, a longer seminar on Milton and twentieth-century fantasy offered in S08 which assumes that participants will have read the poem at least once. Work for the subject: participation, journals, leading discussion.

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Non-Credit Activities Non-Credit Activities

Books into Movies

Organizer: Stephen Tapscott

MW 4:00 - 6:00pm
Location: 2-105

A screening of a series of films based upon books. Each screening will be preceded by a brief introduction to the film by a member of the Literature Faculty. Free and open to the public: attend one or more, it's up to you.

Moby Dick Wyn Kelley Mon, Jan 7
The Maltese Falcon David Thorburn Wed, Jan 9
The First Commandment (from Kieslowski's 'The Decalogue') Stephen Tapscott Mon, Jan 14
Blade Runner Kate Delaney Wed, Jan 23
Washington Square John Hildebidle Mon, Jan 28
L'Enfant Sauvage (The Wild Child) Noel Jackson Wed, Jan 30
Pleasures of Poetry

Organizer: David Thorburn

M - F 1:00 - 2:00
Location: 14E-304

Every IAP, the Literature Faculty (with a lot of help from its friends*) presents the Pleasures of Poetry, a reading and discussion of memorable poems, chosen and led by a Literature Faculty member (or friend), and open to the entire MIT Community. The sessions take place at the same time and in the same room throughout IAP, and we encourage people to drop in whenever they feel the urge to get their poetry fix!

The Schedule of poems to be discussed and names of the session leaders may be found below. A packet containing this schedule and all of the poems in the series is available from the Literature Office (14N-407) and may also be downloaded here.

Bishop, "In the Waiting Room" Stephen Tapscott Mon, Jan 7
Melville and Dickinson Wyn Kelley Tue, Jan 8
Ransome, "Captain Carpenter" David Thorburn Wed, Jan 9
Shakespeare, Sonnets 76, 121 Howard Eiland Thu, Jan 10
James Richardson: "The Encyclopedia of the Stones" James Buzard Fri, Jan 11
Venus Khoury-Ghata

Sarah Wright*

Mon, Jan 14
Tennyson: The Lotos-Eaters Jim Paradis* Tue, Jan 15
David Ferry Zachary Bos* Wed, Jan 16
Milton, from "Paradise Lost" Mary Fuller Thu, Jan 17
May Sarton
Stephen Pepper* Fri, Jan 18
Grace Paley Anne Hudson* Tue, Jan 22
Emily Bronte Susan Lydon* Wed, Jan 23
Louis MacNeice Nora Delaney* Thu, Jan 24
David Dabydeen Alisa Braithwaite Fri, Jan 25
Bishop, Dante, and Doetzer Arthur Bahr Mon, Jan 28
Brenda Marie Osbey Sandy Alexandre Tue, Jan 29
Wordsworth: "Simon Lee, The Old Huntsman" Noel Jackson Wed, Jan 30
Daljit Nagra Sarah Brouillette Thu, Jan 31
Frost Alvin Kibel Fri, Feb 1
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