Of the thousands of novels published every year very few, if any, will go on tobecome classics, not many will reach great critical acclaim, buy some few will demand to be read and then re-read. In this course we will look at some of those which make this demand on us and try to find out just why it is that we aredrawn to read them again and again. We examine plot, characters, setting, dif ferent eras, and naturally the quality of the writing through a review of selected passages. No detective, no fantasy, just abiding classics, from authors such as Jane Austen, F Scott Fitzgerald, Harper Lee, Shirley Hazzard, E M Forster, Hemingway, De Bernieres, Proulx, and yes, The Wind in the Willows.

This is a Discussion Group course, if you aren’t already part of a group please see ‘Getting Started’ below.

Independent Study Discussion Courses are for study by groups without a tutor, so there is no need to write reports. These courses were written by tutors who have now since retired from the Discussion Group Program. Some courses were written a number of years ago, and therefore contain references to events which are now more historical than current, however, all are entertaining, well-produced and worthwhile.
 

COURSE INFORMATION

Course Author: Judy Hartshorne

Course Code: D202

Supplied Material: Course Booklet

Units & Pricing: 5 units / $44 per person

GETTING STARTED

Start your Group: Anyone can start a Discussion Group – seek out some like-minded friends or put up a notice in your local library, bookshop or workplace. Please note a minimum of 6 people is required to start a new discussion group.

Arrange the Meetings: New groups need to decide where and when to meet, and for how long – whatever best suits members' particular situations.

Run your Group: Choose a secretary to liaise with WEA and your tutor, a Discussion Leader to chair meetings, a reporter to take discussion notes to send to your tutor, and maybe a librarian to look after the books.

Start the Course: Contact WEA Sydney to enrol. Bookings can be made for one year, divided into two terms – Term 1 commences in February, Term 2 in July (Groups may make forward bookings for popular choices). Please indicate in what order your Group wishes to study the courses, if more than one course is booked.