ENGL277 - Living on the American Land: Versions of Pastoral in U.S. Literature & Culture

[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2001/2002

Living on the American Land: Versions of Pastoral in U.S. Literature & Culture
ENGL 277 SP

Crosslistings:
AMST 210

Americans have often defined themselves in relation to the natural world. This course will begin by looking at influential theories of this relationship. It will then focus on literary representations of the wilderness and the farm, two important sites in the formation of national identity and values. Along the way we will raise questions about rural ideology, utopianism, race and gender in the country, the definition and value of wilderness, and the foundations of U.S. environmentalism.

MAJOR READINGS

Theoretical texts by relationship Leo Marx, Annette Kolodny, Lawrence Buell, Myra Lehlen, among others.
Primary texts by such writers as Jefferson, Crevecoeur, Batram, Boone, Kirkland, Chesnutt, Jewett, Garland, Cather, Silko, Thoreau, and Abbey

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Frequent short papers and a final project.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course is an American Studies Junior Colloquium. The instructor will distribute Permission of Instructor forms to Junior AMST majors on a first-come, first-served basis UNTIL 3:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, AFTER WHICH TIME OTHER INTERESTED STUDENTS WILL BE ADMITTED UP TO THE COURSE LIMIT.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Stowe,William W.

Instructor's Course Page

Times: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: FISK116

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: UNL)

SR. major: Jr. major:

SR. non-major: Jr. non-major: SO: FR:

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

Permission: Permission of Instructor Required

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2002