Objective:
The course objective is to examine significant literary works of early American and Puritan literature, the Enlightenment, American Romanticism, and pre-Civil War era. Students gain historical background, literary criticism and interpretation, and instruction on writing about literature.
Learning Outcomes:
- find and use literary criticism in your analysis of literary works.
- describe the major historical and cultural developments of colonial America, and explain the key concepts of the time
- describe the major conventions, tropes, and themes of Puritan and early American literature (1650-1750) and identify and discuss those features with regard to individual works
- describe the major historical and cultural developments of the Enlightenment Era, and explain the key concepts of the time
- describe the major conventions, tropes, and themes of Enlightenment literature (1760-1820) and identify and discuss those features with regard to individual authors/works
- describe the major historical and cultural developments of the Romantic period; explain key concepts and terms.
- describe the major conventions, tropes, and themes of Romantic literature (1820-1860) and identify and discuss those features with regard to individual authors/works.
- find and use historical sources to discuss the historical context of a literary work
General Course Topics:
- Reading and interpreting literary texts
- Early American and Puritan Literature (1650 - 1750)
- Enlightenment Literature (1760 - 1820)
- Romantic Literature (1820 - 1860)
- Writing about literature