Course Outline
Jan 11 Introduction to course: readings, requirements (tests and
projects); begin Overview Lecture:
Modern American Literature: Age of Expansion: 1865-1915
13 conclude Overview Lecture;
Whitman "Crossing..."
15 breakout sections: begin Whitman,
"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"
18 no class--Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
20 "Out of the Cradle..."
22 breakout sections: conclude "Cradle"; "Noiseless Patient Spider"
25 begin Dickinson: "I never lost..."
(#49), "I felt a funeral..." (#280)
27 Dickinson: "There's a certain Slant..." (#258), "After great pain..." (#341)
29 breakout sections: Dickinson: "A Route..." (#1463)
Feb 1 Introductory Lecture: "'Realism' and 'Regionalism'";
Howells, from Criticism and Fiction,
Chs. II and XXI
3 conclude Criticism and Fiction; Freeman, "The Revolt of 'Mother'"
5 breakout sections: Realism, Regionalism;
Howells, and Freeman
8 Harris, "The Wonderful
Tar-Baby Story" and "Mr. Rabbit..."
10 Chesnutt, "The Passing of Grandison"; explanation of course enhancement computer project
12 breakout sections: Harris and
Chesnutt; Quiz #1
15 begin Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn
17 continue Huck Finn
19 breakout sections: Huck Finn
22 conclude Huck Finn
24 Wharton, "Roman Fever"
26 breakout sections: Huck Finn and "Roman Fever"
Mar 1 Gilman, "The Yellow Wallpaper"
3 catch up; midterm review
5 breakout sections: Midterm Exam
8, 10 and 12 Spring Break--no classes
15 Introductory Lecture: Modern American Literature:
1915-1945; explanation of writing
project
17 Robinson, "Mr. Flood's Party," "Richard Cory"
19 breakout sections: Modern American Literature; Robinson
22 Frost, "Mending Wall,"
"Birches"
24 Eliot, "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
26 breakout sections: Frost's poems; "Love Song..."; deadline for approval of paper topics (optional)
29 complete "Prufrock"; begin Stevens,
"Sunday Morning"
31 complete "Sunday Morning"
Apr 2 breakout sections: Eliot and Stevens; quiz #2
5 Lecture: Harlem Renaissance; Toomer,
"Karintha," "Reapers," "November Cotton Flower"
7 Cullen, all poems; Hughes, all works
9 breakout sections: Toomer, Cullen, Hughes; papers due
12 Morrison, Tar Baby
14 Tar Baby
16 breakout sections: Tar Baby
19 Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily"
21 Mason, "Shiloh"
23 breakout sections: Faulkner and Mason
26 Kincaid, "Mariah"
28 Study Day--no class
May 3 (Monday) FINAL EXAM: 8-10:50 am