“Years ago they would take general courses in English and American literature; then it was post-colonial literature; now they study “world literature.” Looking at the reading lists, which range far and wide chronologically and geographically, from the Epic of Gilgamesh to Ernest Hemingway, the Tale of Genji to Jorge Luis Borges, it is hard to imagine how a strong sense of context can be built up around any of the individual works.”
NYRB
Interesting essay here. On a side note, I’ve struggled to help students gain a sense of context for ANE writings and it is quite challenging to do especially since the anthologies pay almost no regard to this. For instance, students almost need a “Context for ‘The Context of Scripture’ ” volume…
In regards to your ‘side note,’ it depends on what sort of context you have in mind (social, political, cultural, etc.) for situating ANE lit, but I like the intro to Foster’s Before the Muses. Admittedly just Akkadian Lit, but in tandem with Black et. al.’s Intro to Sumerian Lit nicely orients one to Mesopotamian lit at least. Just an off-the-cuff thought.
Hi Steve, I agree that Foster’s volume is much better, but, alas, as you mentioned it is only Akkadian.