Psyche's Stories: A Depth Psychological Analysis of Fairy-tale Structures and Motifs
Course Description
This course is designed as an advanced seminar, and the topic may vary from year to year. The central focus is on the contribution of analytical psychological theory (classical and post-Jungian) to the study of the human psyche and our understanding of human experience, both individual and collective. Past topics include: C.G. Jung's Seminars on Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra; Jung's writings on religion (especially Collected Works, Vol. 11, Psychology and Religion: West and East); the Freud/Jung Letters; and Mythos: A Depth Psychological Analysis of Narrative Structure and Motif.
The topic for the Winter 2006 Session is: Psyche's Stories: A Depth Psychological Analysis of Fairy-tale Structures and Motifs . We will ground close interpretative readings of individual tales and tale >types= in depth psychological theory, as well as in literary, mythological and anthropological approaches to the narrative structures and motifs of the tale. Our interpretative endeavour will consider historical and sociological analyses, while our focus will explore questions and possibilities of meaning from a psychological, symbolical perspective.
Required Texts
We will work from a slim Course Kit of fairy tales, depth psychological theory, and an inter-disciplinary range of interpretative and critical essays (literary, psychoanalytical/psychological, symbolical, mythological, anthropological, religious), and from an extensive bibliography. The Course Kit will be available in early December from Scholar House Productions, 100 Harbord Street , and will include the bibliography. It is recommended that you purchase any texts you wish to own (works by Jung, von Franz, and/or other material from the bibliography) from Caversham Booksellers, 98 Harbord Street (just west of Spadina, next door to Scholar House Productions).
Time
Mondays 4-7
Evaluation
Informed participation and informal contributions to the class discussions 15%
One oral presentation & presentation notes (due 1 week after the presentation) 35%
Major Essay (approximately 20-25 pages, due on or before the final class) 50%
Admission
Admission to the course is by permission of the instructor. For application forms please see Dr. Ann Yeoman (Dean of Students), Residence Office - Wilson Lounge, or the New College Program Secretary, Ms. Nancy Garvie, 132 Wetmore Hall, New College.
Instructor
Dr. Ann Yeoman
