ENGL108 - American Autobiography

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Academic Year 2003/2004

American Autobiography
ENGL 108 FA

From the journals of Christopher Columbus to the latest best-seller list first-person narratives have been at the cetner of literature written in the Americas. This seminar asks why the form of autobiography has been so important to the literary history of the United States. Why do so many authors--from escaped slaves to chroniclers of the most privileged--choose to represent themselves, or a fictive self in the first-person? What is it about the imagined "I" that so attracts readers? In broader terms, what does the prevalence of autobiography say about the culture--and the politics--of the United States at different moments in history?

Perhaps because autobiography presents a form apparently available to everyone, it crosses many divisions of race, gender, and class. Our readings will provide a way into both these difficult issues and into a number of important aspects of American literature. Our non-fiction readings will include tales of captivity, slave narratives, and the autobiographies of two major African-American writers (Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright). We will also study one first-person novel from each of four major literary periods: THE BLITHEDALE ROMANCE from "the American Renaissance," THE GREAT GATSBY from "the Jazz Age," and INVISIBLE MAN from the post-war period. Our last work, Art Spiegelman's MAUS, an illustrated novel (i.e. comic book), will lead us into Post-Modern forms of autobiography as we study the pioneering hyper-text of MAUS on a multi-media CD-Rom.

MAJOR READINGS

Mary Rowlandson, NARRATIVE OF CAPTIVITY & ESCAPE
Frederick Douglass, NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Nathaniel Hawthorne, THE BLITHEDALE ROMANCE
F. Scott Fitzgerald, THE GREAT GATSBY
Zora Neale Hurston, DUST TRACKS ON THE ROAD
Richard Wright, BLACK BOY/AMERICAN HUNGER
Ralph Ellison, INVISIBLE MAN
Art Speigelman, MAUS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

2 essays 3-4 p.p. in form of an autobiography and a framed fictional narrative.
2 analytical papers 3-4 p.p. one close-reading of language; one study of narrative form.
2 reading examinations at mid-term and at the close of the class.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

As the writing assignments indicate, we will be practicing the art of autobiography (in fiction and non-fiction modes), as well as studying the texts for the class. Though no previous experience is necessary, interested students should be aware of this creative-writing component of the class.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Baraw,Charles E

Times: .M.W... 11:00AM-12:20PM; Location: CRT271

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 19)

SR. major: 0 Jr. major: 0

SR. non-major: 0 Jr. non-major: 0 SO: 0 FR: 19

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

FYI: First Year Initiative:Seminar

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004