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Academic Year 2002/2003


Plotting Marriage in African American Fiction
AFAM 318 FA

Crosslistings:
ENGL 315

Generally thought of as a convention of white domestic fiction, the marriage plot has received little attention from critics of African American literature. This course argues, however, that, like its European and Anglo-American counterparts, the African American novel has developed around the coupling convention. Focusing primarily on the novel, we will examine the ways in which African American writers, from William Wells Brown to Toni Morrison, have appropriated for their own political and literary purposes both the genre of the novel and the structure of the marriage plot.

MAJOR READINGS

Baldwin, GIOVANNI'S ROOM
Gaines, OF LOVE AND DUST
Hurston, SERAPH ON THE SUWANEE
Jones, CORREGIDORA
McMillan, DISAPPEARING ACTS
Marshall, BROWN GIRL, BROWNSTONES
Morrison, TAR BABY
Shockley, LOVING HER
Toomer, CANE
Walker, IN LOVE AND TROUBLE
West, THE LIVING IS EASY
Wilson, FENCES

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Two short essays based on the required reading; one longer essay based on outside reading and research; and a final examination.

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: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: AFAM201 OR ENGL201 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003


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