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Academic Year 2004/2005
The First Century of the African American Novel, 1853-1953
AFAM 260 SP
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
Andrews, William, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN NOVEL IN THE AGE OF REACTION (1992)
Bell, Bernard, THE AFRO-AMERICAN NOVEL AND ITS TRADITION (1989)
Brown, Williams Wells, CLOTEL, OR THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER
(1853)
Ellison, Ralph, INVISIBLE MAN
(1952)
Hopkins, Pauline, CONTENDING FORCES (1900)
Hurston, Zora Neale, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD (1937)
Larsen, Nella, QUICKSAND and PASSING (1928, 1929)
Petry, Ann, THE NARROWS (1953)
Wright,
Richard, NATIVE SON (1945)
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
One short paper (5 pages); one long paper (12 pages); one final exam.
COURSE FORMAT:
Lecture/Discussion
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level:
UGRD
Credit:
1
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL
Grading Mode:
Graded
Prerequisites:
[AFAM202 or ENGL240] OR ENGL201
SECTION 01
- Instructor(s): Rushdy,Ashraf H.A.
- Times: ...W... 07:00PM-09:50PM; Location: FISK414;
- Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 40)
- SR. major: 10 Jr. major: 10
- SR. non-major: 10 Jr. non-major: 10 SO: X FR: X
Special Attributes:
Links to Web Resources For This Course.
Last Updated on MAR-21-2005
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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459