Literature   

In this course you will read and discuss three books. All sessions will be on Zoom. The first book will be The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni. The book is available in paperback print, large print, eBook, and audio formats. The remaining two books will be announced during the first session of the group. Nan Loggains has led book groups for the past 25 years.

The philosophy behind this course is simple: we appreciate poetry best when we examine it closely, with other attentive readers. Our community combines returning members, working poets, and poetry lovers with diverse life experiences. Although this is our seventh semester together, every semester we welcome new members to our group because they bring fresh perspectives. And you are welcome to simply “listen in” if you’re not sure how to talk about poetry: you will quickly learn! Over the course of our eight meetings together we will work to fully understand poems written in the English language from the Renaissance to today. You will learn what to look for in old and new poems to appreciate different poetic styles. Emphasis will be placed on hearing diverse voices from various times, places, and standpoints: some famous, some contemporary, some recently rediscovered. We will read poems out loud while practicing our scansion skills, noting patterns of sound and rhythm. We will tease out possible interpretations of metaphors. We will discuss the historical and biographical context that frames each poet and poem. Why are some poems read over and over, delighting generations of readers? Why are some considered landmarks of social change? What do you enjoy in a poem?

This class will be taught in a Group Discussion style on Zoom. Members will be provided with copies of poems and supporting materials in advance of class through email. They will be encouraged to share their discoveries about each poem, while remaining open to contributions from other group members. Our goal will be to work towards a richer understanding of each poem together.

Ireland, a tiny country on the periphery of Europe, has exerted an extraordinary impact on modern literature: Who is the greatest poet of the 20th century (Yeats), who is the century's greatest dramatists (Synge, O'Casey, and Beckett), who is the century's greatest fiction writer (Joyce), who are the greatest poets in the 21st century (Heaney and Bolland). This course will provide an overview of Irish literary greatness in the 20th and 21st centuries. Week 1: Yeats, Week 2: Synge, Week 3: Joyce, Week 4: O'Casey, Week 5: Beckett, Week 6: Heaney/Bolland. The course will provide an introduction to Irish literary history and its impact.

This course explores how children's literature can foster critical thinking by connecting stories to personal experiences. Through guided discussions, students will be encouraged to reflect on their own memories and interpretations, deepening their understanding of the themes and messages within each book. Every session will focus on a selected title, examining both the narrative and the illustrations to uncover how visual elements enhance storytelling. Writing prompts will accompany each reading, offering participants a chance to express their insights and engage creatively with the material. By revisiting beloved stories through an adult lens, students will discover new layers of meaning and the powerful role children's literature plays in shaping thought and emotion.

In this course on Modern Scotland, students will embark on an exploration of contemporary Ireland through the lens of renowned Scottish writers. Participants will explore a curated selection of three impactful books, each offering a unique perspective on the cultural, social, and historical fabric of modern Scotland.

From the Garden of Eden to the Salem witch trials and the 1980s “Satanic Panic,” humans have blamed misdeeds on the Devil. But where did the idea of the devil come from? Did the ancient Israelites believe in such a being? Is Lucifer the same as the Devil? Did Jesus believe in hell? This course traces the evolution of the idea of the Devil from Zoroastrian and Jewish roots through Christianity and Islam, exploring figures like the adversary in Job and the dragon in Revelation. We’ll see how European folklore and writers such as Milton shaped his image, and how “the Devil” still haunts modern American political rhetoric.

The Great Gatsby delves into the decadence and disillusionment of the early 1920s. Women’s haircuts and hemlines were shorter. Alcohol was illegal, but bootleggers kept the booze flowing. Gangsters ruled the streets, and jazz music floated out of the clubs. Enter Jay Gatsby—a mysterious man with bountiful riches and an unknown past. The Great Gatsby is an anti-love story; it’s a tale of one man’s obsession with rewriting history. In this course, students will learn about the 1920s and F. Scott Fitzgerald. They will also receive a six-week at-home reading schedule. The foundation of each class will be discussion based on the assigned reading. Join this course for six weeks of engaging literary discussion on The Great Gatsby!

This course will focus on the reading and discussing of Shakespeare's greatest comedies. Each week, students will be invited to engage in a wide-ranging discussion about a given play.