ENGL109-09S2 (C) Semester Two 2009

American Literature

18 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2009
End Date: Sunday, 15 November 2009
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2009
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 11 October 2009

Description

A broad introduction to American literature, with an emphasis on twentieth century fiction. The programme is structured around three key terms: romanticism, modernism, and postmodernism.

This course offers an introduction to American Literature.  A range of texts has been selected to acquaint students with major examples of American poetry and fiction from the romantic era to the present, with the strongest emphasis falling on twentieth century fiction.

American literature is too diverse for any one course to introduce it comprehensively.  Instead the reading focuses on three key moments, or impulses:  romanticism, modernism, and postmodernism.  Students will learn how these periodising terms have been used, and how they can help to make sense of American literary history.

Learning Outcomes

  • Course aims:
  • to introduce students to the diversity of modern American literature;
  • to familiarize students with the use of the terms ‘romanticism,’ ‘modernism’ and ‘postmodernism’;
  • to initiate students in the use of critical theory in writing about literary texts.

Restrictions

Equivalent Courses

Course Coordinator

John Newton

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
1,500 word essay 20%
1,500 word essay 20%
Final Examination 60%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

ENGL 109 Course Reader ;

Chopin, Kate , Baym, Nina; The awakening and selected stories ; Modern Library, 1993.

DeLillo, Don; White noise ; Picador, 1985.

Fitzgerald, F. Scott; The great Gatsby ; Icon, 1997.

Kushner, Tony; Homebody/Kabul ; Theatre Communications Group, 2004.

Morrison, Toni; Sula ; Picador, 1991.

Tartt, Donna; The secret history ; Penguin, 1993.

Course links

Library portal

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $640.00

International fee $2,670.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All ENGL109 Occurrences

  • ENGL109-09S2 (C) Semester Two 2009