Fall 2004

E 314V • Caribbean Literature and Culture

Course Description

Computer-assisted course

This course will introduce students to the diversity and richness of the Americas through the unique lens of Caribbean literature, history, and culture. With the recent awards of the Nobel Prize for literature to two prominent Caribbean writers (Derek Walcott and V.S. Naipaul) Caribbean literature has enjoyed a new prominence in literary studies. This course will focus on the importance of the Caribbean as a site of cultural fusion in the Americas and will address such issues as Colonialism and its aftermath, gender, race, class, and migration as they appear in this body of the literature. The literary readings will be augmented with films that will serve as multi-media counterparts to the texts. Finally, we will consider these works in order to discuss how Caribbean literature and culture exist in relation to the wider culture and literature of the Americas.

Grading Policy

In-class assignments, attendance, and participation 10%
Reading quizzes and tests 10%
Three critical response papers 10%
Oral group presentation and handout 15%
Midterm critical essay 20%
Final critical essay 30%

Texts

Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place
Paule Marshall, The Chosen Place, The Timeless People
V.S. Naipaul, A House for Mr. Biswas
Jacques Roumain, Masters of the Dew
Samuel Selvon, The Lonely Londoners
Esmeralda Santiago, When I was Puerto Rican
Derek Walcott, Selected Poetry

Films:
Life and Debt
Sugar Cane Alley
The Harder They Come

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