This course is an examination of Susanna Clarke's Piranesi. It details the multi-layered influences and implications of the novel. This mystery/fantasy novel plunges readers into the strange world known only as “The House”, a flooded labyrinth of statues where the narrator Piranesi lives. The course details the multimodal connections of Clarke’s novel from the artwork of Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778) to C.S. Lewis’s world of Narnia.

Through lecture, discussion and supplemental readings, this module is designed to give students a solid basis to understand and analyze Clarke’s engaging and fascinating story. While a copy of the novel will be required for the course, all supplemental readings will be provided.

We will look at labyrinth mythology and Greek philosophy, surrealism, and dream logic. This class is intended for anyone interested in reading and exploring the intricacies of fantasy, especially those who love a good mystery!

The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:

Outline	8-Session Structure
Week 1	Session 1: Introduction to Portal Fantasy, Susanna Clarke, Piranesi art and Novel.
	Session 2: The Labyrinth in fiction. Assigned reading overview. Read and discuss pages1-39.
Week 2	Session 3: Surrealism and dream narratives. Assigned reading overview. Read and discuss pages 39-82.
	Session 4: The Allegory of the Cave. Assigned reading overview. Read and discuss pages 85-122.
Week 3	Session 5: C.S. Lewis Influence and Connections. Assigned reading overview. Read and discuss pages 125-170.
	Session 6: Assigned reading overview. Read and discuss pages 173-217.
Week 4	Session 7: Assigned reading overview. Read and discuss pages 217-245.
	Session 8: Discussion of Complete Novel.