[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2005/2006


Making History in the Contemporary American Novel
ENGL 343 SP

Despite the threat to history that some critics see lurking in postmodernism, much recent American fiction is preoccupied with the past. This course will explore the different kinds of historicism fostered by contemporary novelists. What visions of American history do these novels construct and contest? How, if at all, do they change our notion of what counts as history? This course will try to understand what is at stake in the turn to history and how it shapes our understanding of the postmodern.

MAJOR READINGS

Selected criticism and theory.
Norman Mailer, ARMIES OF THE NIGHT
Toni Morrison, BELOVED
Don DeLillo, LIBRA
Phillip Roth, AMERICAN PASTORAL
Michael Ondaatje, COMING THROUGH SLAUGHTER

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One short and one long essay, mutiple resposne papers

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This course is open to majors and non-majors.

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): Bachner,Sally    
Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM;     Location: DWNY113;
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 35)
SR. major: 8   Jr. major: 8
SR. non-major: 7   Jr. non-major: 7   SO: 5   FR: X

Special Attributes:
Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006


Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions. Please include a url, course title, faculty name or other page reference in your email

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459