This course offers a critical examination of selected literary texts from the origins of Native American storytelling through the period of the American Civil War. Through close reading and analysis, students will explore the development of American literature in relation to the historical, cultural, and ideological contexts of the Americas. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how literature reflects and shapes the evolving identity of the nation. Over the course of the semester, students are required to produce a minimum of 2,500 words through a combination of formal and informal writing assignments, including multiple revisions.
Prerequisites
ENG 101 with a grade of “C” or higher
1. Demonstrate the capacity to engage in critical reading of literary texts, with careful consideration of their social, political, historical, and intellectual contexts, as well as their formal literary structures, elements, and stylistic features.
2. Compose a formal literary analysis essay that presents a clear analytical or argumentative thesis, supported by textual evidence drawn from both primary literary works and relevant secondary sources.