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

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Academic Year 2005/2006

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

Crosslistings:
AMST 210

The United States has often been called "nature's nation." This course will explore some of the ways in which American writers from the revolutionary period to the present have depicted relations between their fellow citizens and the natural world. Paying special attention to exploration farming, and the "back to the land" movement, we will raise questions about national identity and values, rural ideology, utopianism, and the foundations of the environmental movement.

MAJOR READINGS

Essays by Leo Marx, Annette Kolodny, Lawrence Buell.
Selections from Thomas Jefferson, St. Jean Crevecoeur, William Bartram, John Filson.
Stories, novels, and essays by Charles Chesnutt, Hamlin Garland, Willa Cather, Leslie Marmon Silko, Henry Thoreau, Scott and Helen Nearing, Jane Smiley.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Frequent short papers and a final research project.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course fulfills the English Departments research requirement for honors candidates.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Stowe,William W.

Times: ..T.R.. 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: FISK305;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 25)

SR. major: 8 Jr. major: 8

SR. non-major: 5 Jr. non-major: 4 SO: X FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006