Reading & Composition

“Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t”

-Proverb (Unknown Origin)

In this class, we’ll explore encounters with the devil in novels, poetry, film, music, and drama. By tracing the literary tradition of representing the devil, we will examine various incarnations of the diabolic, from byronic hero, to cunning deceiver, to the embodiment of evil’s pervasive everyday power. Where does our conception of the devil originate? What contributes to the devil’s allure as a literary figure? What is at stake in representing the devil as a character? When does the devil cease to be literal and begin to be figural, and how do we understand this distinction? How does the idea of the devil manifest itself in a contemporary context? We’ll address these, and many other questions, through class discussion and written assignments.