Welcome to ENGL 3700, Studies in the Contemporary Novel
This section of ENGL 3700 will consider what I’m calling “The New American Mythology” in American novels after World War II. Subjects will include the narratives that make up “America” for better or worse, like race, religion, identity, gender, reproduction, beauty, war, and technoculture.
What does it mean to be alive in the new American century? What are the myths that guide American conceptions of reality after World War II? We will examine at least one novel(la) per decade beginning in 1950 through the early 21st century. What ideas inform “America” and how do these various expressions support, reevaluate, or undermine them? We will also consider the novel as a literary genre and how it has changed to support changing cultural expectations.
Introduction
The document you’re reading is your syllabus. Everything you need for this class is on this page and linked off of it. Please read this document and those it links to carefully at the beginning of the semester. There is much information to process, and it can be somewhat daunting — especially if you read cursorily. If you are confused, do your best to work through it by (re)reading this document carefully and completely, searching this site, or consulting the FAQ. I promise, there is an answer to your question. If all else fails, you may contact me. Trust yourself to follow directions and find the answers. Be careful and deliberate.
Required Texts
- Atwood, Margaret (2014) [1985]. The Handmaid’s Tale. New York: Library Edition.
- Baldwin, James (2013) [1953]. Go Tell It on the Mountain. New York: Vintage.
- DeLillo, Don (1998) [1985]. White Noise (9th ed.). New York: Viking Critical Library.
- Ishiguro, Kazuo (2006) [2005]. Never Let Me Go. New York: Vintage.
- Mailer, Norman (2013) [1965]. An American Dream. New York: Random House.
- Morrison, Toni (2007) [1970]. The Bluest Eye. New York: Vintage.
- Tiptree, James (1996) [1976]. Houston, Houston, Do You Read?. New York: Doubleday Book. (Will be available as a PDF.)
- Vonnegut, Kurt (1999) [1969]. Slaughterhouse-Five: A Novel. New York: Dial Press.
The rest of the syllabus is on D2L ➭
.
| 🕒 02-23-2022 | 📆 Make an Appointment | 💬 Ask a Question | 📣 Leave Feedback |
