Introduction to “Survey of Introduction to “Survey of American Literature II: American Literature II:

1865-Present1865-Present

English 242English 242

Robin BrownhillRobin Brownhill

Overview for Spring 2012Overview for Spring 2012

Course Content and ScopeCourse Content and Scope Expected OutcomesExpected Outcomes How the Class is RunHow the Class is Run Tips for SuccessTips for Success

Part I – The ContentPart I – The Content

Survey – Covers many authors and a large Survey – Covers many authors and a large period of timeperiod of time

Content arranged chronologicallyContent arranged chronologically ““WHAT” – Authors, works,WHAT” – Authors, works, ideas ideas, stories, , stories,

style/genre, historical contextstyle/genre, historical context Finding ConnectionsFinding Connections

Between literature and cultureBetween literature and culture Among worksAmong works

Sharing interpretations – through reading, Sharing interpretations – through reading, writing, and responding to one another.writing, and responding to one another.

Major Time Period DivisionsMajor Time Period Divisions

Post-Civil War Period (1865-1910)Post-Civil War Period (1865-1910) Modern Period (1910 – 1945)Modern Period (1910 – 1945) Postmodern Period (1945-Present)Postmodern Period (1945-Present)

Post-Civil War Period (to 1910)Post-Civil War Period (to 1910)

Examining the war Examining the war and its effectsand its effects

The “Gilded Age”The “Gilded Age” Realism and Realism and

NaturalismNaturalism

Themes (throughout course)Themes (throughout course)

War and PowerWar and Power FeminismFeminism Paternity and MaternityPaternity and Maternity Race RelationsRace Relations The American DreamThe American Dream Dealing with DeathDealing with Death Dealing with Guilt (confessional writing)Dealing with Guilt (confessional writing) The Heroic JourneyThe Heroic Journey The Meaning of LoveThe Meaning of Love

““Modern” Period (1910-1945)Modern” Period (1910-1945)

New Negro New Negro Movement and Movement and Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance

““Modernism” as an Modernism” as an aestheticaesthetic

Modernism vs. PostmodernismModernism vs. Postmodernism

Modernists – Concerned with Finding Meaning

Postmodernists – Concerned with Proving That There Is No “Meaning”

Contemporary or PostmodernContemporary or Postmodern Cold War WritersCold War Writers The “Beat” GenerationThe “Beat” Generation PostmodernistsPostmodernists Civil Rights MovementCivil Rights Movement Vietnam WarVietnam War Multiculturalism (new voices)Multiculturalism (new voices)

Expected OutcomesExpected Outcomes Demonstrating knowledge of content (through Demonstrating knowledge of content (through

reading responses, discussion, quizzes, tests, reading responses, discussion, quizzes, tests, essays, presentation)essays, presentation)

Demonstrating ability to read closely and interpret Demonstrating ability to read closely and interpret literary texts, using literature writer’s vocabularyliterary texts, using literature writer’s vocabulary

Demonstrating ability to write literary analysisDemonstrating ability to write literary analysis Finding and using your own “critic’s voice”Finding and using your own “critic’s voice” Identifying and writing about connections among Identifying and writing about connections among

worksworks Conducting research related to worksConducting research related to works Presenting research and ideas to class members.Presenting research and ideas to class members.

How the Class is RunHow the Class is Run

Syllabus describes major assignments, Syllabus describes major assignments, grade division, and schedulegrade division, and schedule

Class Activities – READING; Writing Class Activities – READING; Writing assignments with threaded discussion; assignments with threaded discussion; some lecture (audio); research; some lecture (audio); research; presentations; quizzes, tests.presentations; quizzes, tests.

Content arranged and discussed Content arranged and discussed chronologicallychronologically and and by themeby theme

Conduct expectations – see syllabus.Conduct expectations – see syllabus.

Tips for SuccessTips for Success Visit Blackboard Site about 5 times per week, Visit Blackboard Site about 5 times per week,

keeping track of deadlineskeeping track of deadlines Read assignments by due dates -take notesRead assignments by due dates -take notes Compose off line, paying attention to clarityCompose off line, paying attention to clarity Complete every assignmentComplete every assignment Pay close attention to the quality of your Pay close attention to the quality of your

reading responses – They are reading responses – They are KeyKey Engage in discussions with class membersEngage in discussions with class members Ask questionsAsk questions

Internet Images Used:Internet Images Used:http://harlemhistory30.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-differentiates-music-during-harlem.html (Cotton Club)http://faculty.uml.edu/sgallagher/Gilded%20Age.htm (Gilded age)http://blog.onlinepostprinting.com (realism)http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/41KGT135KQL._SL500_AA240_.jpg (cold war)http://www.fivestarfunfairs.com/pictures/funhouse.png (funhouse)http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~gilmore/images/collection/misc/prism.gif (prism)http://www.diversity.mnscu.edu/images/copyphoto19.jpg (multiculturalism)http://rosenblumtv.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/vietnam-soldiers-1.jpg (vietnam)http://page29.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/red_wheelbarrow.jpg (red wheelbarrow)http://www.olemiss.edu/courses/his105/images/civwar_young_soldier.jpg (civil war soldier)http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/american_civil_war_confederate_dead_chancellorsville.jpg (civil war dead)http://www-tc.pbs.org/wnet/americannovel/timeline/images/beatgeneration.jpg (Beats)http://upeidisability.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/civil-rights-leaders1.png (Civil Rights)http://armchairspasm.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/dust-bowl1.jpg (dust bowl)