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Academic Year 2002/2003


The First Century of the African American Novel, 1853-1953
ENGL 308 FA

Crosslistings:
AFAM 310

In this course, we will read a set of selected novels written between 1853 and 1953. We will discuss each of these novels as both a work of art and a historically-specific, politically-charged cultural production. That is, we will attend to the formal and aesthetic properties of each of the novels as well as to the historical context and the social and cultural meaning of these works. Two of the major points of discussion in the course will be the issues of "canonicity" and "tradition". As we read the series of novels, we will attempt to discern how one novel relates to its predecessors in the construction of an African American literary continuum. We will also discuss the ways literary canons and literary histories get constructed and reconstructed.

MAJOR READINGS

Bell, Bernard, THE AFRO-AMERICAN NOVEL AND ITS TRADITION (U. of Massachusetts, 1989)
Brown, Williams Wells, CLOTEL (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000)
Chesnutt, Charles, THE MARROW OF TRADITION (Penguin, 1993)
Dunbar, Paul Laurence, THE SPORT OF THE GODS (Signet Classic, 1999)
Ellison, Ralph, INVISIBLE MAN (Vintage International, 1990)
Harper, Frances, IOLA LEROY (Beacon Press, 1987)
Hopkins, Pauline, CONTENDING FORCES (Oxford UP, 1988)
Hurston, Zora Neale, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD (HarperPerrennial, 1990)
Larsen, Nella, THE COMPLETE FICTION OF NELLA LARSEN (Anchor, 2001)
Schuyler, George, BLACK NO MORE (Northeastern UP, 1989)
Wright, Richard, NATIVE SON (HarperPerrennial Classics, 1998)

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One short paper (5 pages); one long paper (12 pages); one final exam.

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.

The instructor of this course will not be using the on-line wait list. If you are interested in this course, please contact the instructor directly.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: AFAM201 OR ENGL201

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Rushdy,Ashraf H.A.   
Times: ..T.... 07:00PM-09:50PM;     Location: FISK305
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 25)
SR. major: 7   Jr. major: 7
SR. non-major: 6   Jr. non-major: 5   SO: X   FR: X

Special Attributes:
Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003


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