Summer 2004

E f316K • Masterworks of Literature: American

Course Description

This course will examine the origins of American literature from its colonial beginnings in New England in the 17th century through the Enlightenment of the 18th century and the particular brand of Romanticism that marked the early 19th century. Then we will focus on a myriad of American voices of the late 19th and 20th centuries, noting, as we proceed, both continuities and innovations. We will seek to define, if possible, a genuine national literature that is strong, multicultural, and inclusive. There is a fair amount of reading to be done in this class, but the rewards in seeking to understand America past and present are immense.

Grading Policy

Quizzes 20%
Mid-term exam 25%
Essay 25%
Final exam 30%

Texts

Concise Anthology of American Literature, 5th Edition, George McMichael, Gen. Ed., (Prentice Hall, 1999)
The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, (Scribner, 1925; Scribner Paperback Fiction, 1995) [edition w/ ‘Preface’ and ‘Explanatory Notes’ by Matthew J. Bruccoli.]
In the Lake of the Woods, Tim O’Brien (Penguin, 1994)
E 316K Course Packet (Berry), from University Co-op

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