Course Times: Mon and Wed, 3:30-4:45 pm, in 206 EPB

Office Hours: Mon and Wed, 2:30-3:20, and by appointment, in 455 EPB

E-mail/Phone: rob-latham@uiowa.edu; 335-0465

Required Texts (at Prairie Lights Bookstore):

Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow

Steven Weisenburger, A "Gravity's Rainbow" Companion

Description: In this course we will read what is widely considered to be the greatest American novel of the second half of the 20th century, Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow. This enormous and difficult book weaves together history and myth, high culture and slapstick farce, lyric poetry and organic chemistry, and countless other sources and inspirations into a dense, multilayered, and penetrating vision of the modern world&emdash;a world increasingly dominated by technological systems and the mysterious, complicated bureaucracies that channel and sustain them. On top of reading the novel slowly and carefully, we will also explore its major intertexts, sources, and critical interpretations.

Requirements and Assignments: The first requirement is preparation and attendance; you must be here for every class meeting with the day's reading completed. Since this course will be conducted seminar-style, your participation is crucial, so please don't be shy.

The major assignments, other than attendance and participation, are: bi-weekly reading responses; two in-class presentations (with subsequent write-ups); and a final 12-page paper. The reading responses should record major observations, questions, concerns, and/or criticisms that emerge from your reading of the novel. There will be an average of 3-4 responses per class session, assigned on a rotation basis. By 5 PM of the day before your response is due, you must email your response to me so that I can circulate it to the class; everyone else will need to access their email and read the response(s) before class meets the following day.

The in-class presentations take two forms. The first involves research into some relevant background source or historical context for the novel, distilled down into a 15-minute presentation. The second requires you to lead class discussion when we read a major critical interpretation of the book. In both cases, the presentation will be accompanied by a brief (4-5 page) write-up.

The final paper develops a focused critical reading of some aspect of the novel. You may make use of the research and reading for your presentations in writing this final paper, though that is not required. The last three class sessions will be given over to discussions of your final projects.

Grading: The grades will be determined on the following basis: 20% attendance and participation; 20% reading questions; 25% in-class presentations and write-ups; 35% final paper.

Reading Schedule:

Week 1.

Mon. 8/27: Introduction

Wed. 8/29: Reading strategies

Week 2.

Mon. 9/3: Holiday

Wed. 9/5: GR, to p. 47

Week 3.

Mon. 9/10: GR, to p. 92

Wed. 9/12: GR, to p.136

Week 4.

Mon. 9/17: GR, to p. 177

Wed. 9/19: Presentations for Part I

Week 5.

Mon. 9/24: GR, to p. 226

Wed. 9/26: GR, to p. 278

Week 6.

Mon. 10/1: Presentations for Part II

Wed. 10/3: GR, to p. 329

Week 7.

Mon. 10/8: GR, to p. 371

Wed. 10/10: GR, to p. 433

Week 8.

Mon. 10/15: GR, to p. 482

Wed. 10/17: GR, to p. 525

Week 9.

Mon. 10/22: GR, to p. 577

Wed. 10/24: GR, to p. 616

Week 10.

Mon. 10/29: Presentations for Part III

Wed. 10/31: GR, to p. 663

Week 11.

Mon. 11/5: GR, to p. 717

Wed. 11/7: GR, to p. 760

Week 12.

Mon. 11/12: Presentations for Part IV

Wed. 11/14: Critical Readings

Week 13.

Mon. 11/19: Critical Readings

Wed. 11/21: Thanksgiving

Week 14.

Mon. 11/26: Critical Readings

Wed. 11/28: Critical Readings

Week 15.

Mon. 12/3: Critical Readings

Wed. 12/5: Student Projects

Week 16.

Mon. 12/10: Student Projects

Wed. 12/12: Student Projects