EGL 232 - American Renaissance

Course Units: 1.0

An introduction to major American literary figures of the nineteenth century. We will read works by Irving, Emerson, Thoreau, Douglass, Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, Whitman, Dickinson, and Twain. Topics to be discussed include nature and society, leisure and labor, slavery and the abolitionist movement, the formation of a distinctly American notion of individuality, Transcendentalism, and last, but not least, regional humor. Above all, the goal of this course is to enable you to enjoy some of the great works of American literature through a program of active reading, writing and vigorous in-class discussion. Prerequisite(s): One 100-level English course or a score of 5 on the AP English Language or Literature and Composition test. CQ: WAC ISP: AMS