Литература США

Бакалавриат 2022/2023

Статус: Курс по выбору (Иностранные языки и межкультурная коммуникация)

Направление: 45.03.02. Лингвистика

Кто читает: Школа иностранных языков

Где читается: Школа иностранных языков

Когда читается: 1-й курс, 3, 4 модуль

Формат изучения: без онлайн-курса

Охват аудитории: для всех кампусов НИУ ВШЭ

Преподаватели: Чернецова Екатерина Владимировна

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 3

Контактные часы: 44

Full Syllabus

Abstract

This course surveys selected American authors representing the major periods, schools, and traditions in American literary history. The course covers the pre-colonial eras (before European colonization in the 1600s) to our contemporary era; multiple genres (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama). Some attention is also paid to the historical/cultural contexts of the literary periods. In particular, the course examines the manner in which writers with diverse backgrounds responded to or appropriated different types of language as part of their efforts to offer alternative expressions of the American experience. Special emphasis will be given to the study of American identity, multiculturalism, race, gender, religious belief, technology, and economic difference. The course traces the formal and thematic developments of literature, focusing on the relationship between writers and readers, the conditions of publishing, innovations in the novel’s form, fiction’s engagement with history, and the changing place of literature in American culture. Given the knowledge that literature is inseparably linked to history and is generated from a specific historical period, the student will be able to discern historical events and influences as depicted, explicitly or implicitly, in literature. Students should be able to show the relationship between an author’s life and the philosophy of the time in which they lived and their literary works. The course offers students a broad introduction to American literature, also serves as preparation for more an advanced course in American studies and American literature in particular. The course is designed to provide students with the analytic skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and materials in American literature. Students will learn to assess literary and cultural materials, their relevance to a given interpretive problem, reliability, and importance, and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in literary and scholarship. The American Literature course is aimed to develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. The course combines activities of a traditional (quizzes, essays, discussions etc.) and a nontraditional (presentations, games, creative writing etc.) nature. It also envisages various research projects conducted individually or in small groups on a wide range of topics related to its subject matter. This syllabus sets minimal requirements for the knowledge and skills of students and determines the contents of the course. It targets both lecturers and teaching assistants, and 2nd - year undergraduate students of the Foreign languages and intercultural communication programme, to whose needs it is specifically tailored.

Learning Objectives

The American Literature course is aimed to develop the skills necessary to arrive at conclusions on the basis of an informed judgment and to present reasons and evidence clearly and persuasively in essay format. The course combines activities of a traditional (quizzes, essays, discussions etc.) and a nontraditional (presentations, games, creative writing etc.) nature. It also envisages various research projects conducted individually or in small groups on a wide range of topics related to its subject matter.

Expected Learning Outcomes

be able to apply selected theories of American literature
be able to compare the characteristics of major literary movements
be able to content, and mechanics
be able to contrast the theoretical aspects of literary genres
be able to define major literary movements and schools
be able to evaluate the quality of literary works by comparing them to the recognized best in that genre
be able to identify the connections between contemporary American literature and culture
be able to interpret major literary works
be able to outline the literary history of America
be able to present acceptable critical analysis of a novel from the standpoint of style
be able to summarize an argument, compare/contrast the thematic and structural characteristics of literary texts
develop skills of of thinking, reading, and writing analytically and critically
develop skills of presenting one’s own opinion and participating (individually or in small groups) in the debates on a wide range of topics related to the course subject matter
develop skills of thinking, reading, and writing analytically and critically
develop skills of using terminology and methods taught within the course
develop skills of working with primary and secondary sources
know literary heritage and its meaning to American nation and the whole world
know main political and cultural leaders
know major periods in American literature
know significant periods and streams of American literature
know social and cultural development of the USA
know their representatives and major texts

Course Contents

Topic 1 American literary periods. Colonial period and democratic origin of American literature
Topic 2 Literature of Enlightenment and Establishment of American literary traditions
Topic 3 Romantic period in American literature
Topic 4 Rise of Realism and the development of regional literature
Topic 5 Naturalism and Muckraking in American literature
Topic 6 Post-war literature. Literature of the Lost Generation.
Topic 7 Literature of the first quarter of the XXth century. Modernism and Experimentation. Trends of Realism
Topic 8 Second World War and American view. American Identity in literature.
Topic 9 Literature of exhaustion. Change of paradigms: Realism-Modernism-Postmodernism
Topic 10 American literature of the last decades (the turn of the XXst century). Moving to Postmodernism and back. New trends, new tradition. Interaction of different traditions and experiments.

Assessment Elements

Attendance and participation 0,25
Active participation in group discussions and in-class assignments is required at every seminar. Students should inform their professor about their excused absences before the class (not after) by email, and provide the doctor’s note and other documents about them. An excused absence is an absence due to a number of accepted reasons such as a medical or personal issue beyond one’s control, participation in a significant extracurricular university event, conference etc. If the absence is excused, the grade for seminar participation will not be reduced. However, even if a student is absent, they are still responsible for any written homework assignments; because they will have at least a week’s lead time, the due date for these remains the same regardless of one’s absence
Ongoing quizzes and tests 0.15
After some lectures or during some of the seminars, LMS quizzes will evaluate students’ understanding of the required Key Texts. It is up to the instructor to decide whether to give a quiz or not; students will be warned about it in advance if a quiz takes place after a lecture; if a quiz takes place on a seminar students might not be informed in advanced (questions will be based on their home assignment for this particular class) so they should do their reading beforehand
Projects, presentations 0.2
Several projects, presentations, and other activities will be given throughout the course as a way for students to demonstrate understanding and mastery in their own unique way. Students must complete projects on time. If a student has taken up a project that requires their presence in class (for instance, a presentation), but has to miss the class, they should find themselves a replacement (another student who will agree to do the project in their place). Otherwise, they will get a zero regardless of any excuses. Each student must take part in such activities at least once per course. The mean grade for all the projects is rounded starting with 0,6.
Written papers 0.15
Students should meet assignment deadlines by all means. In case one’s assignment is 1-2 days late, they lose 50% of their grade. In case one’s assignment is 3 or more days late, it is not accepted or assessed – the grade is a zero. There will be several written home assignments in the format of journal writing (analyzing fiction / non-fiction of a given period). The assignments should be typed and follow basic academic style conventions and formatting rules. Instructions will be given per assignment.
Examination 0,25
Possible Exam forms: an essay, a test, an exam card. Exam cards include 1-2 questions: 1. A Question in theory and history of American Literature (lectures) 2. A Question on compulsory texts to be read during the course. Questions on texts All the grades are rounded half up (arithmetic rounding) to the nearest whole numerical grade. During a resit (repeat examination) one’s cumulative grade cannot be improved. During a resit (repeat examination) students answer all questions orally. Criteria for projects and presentations speech are applied

Interim Assessment

2022/2023 4th module
0.15 * Ongoing quizzes and tests 0.15 + 0.25 * Examination 0,25 + 0.2 * Projects, presentations 0.2 + 0.25 * Attendance and participation 0,25 + 0.15 * Written papers 0.15

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Massa, A., & Goldman, A. (2016). American Literature in Context : 1900-1930. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1240144
Pavese, C., & Fussell, E. S. (2017). American Literature : Essays and Opinions. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1564310

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Albin Beqiri. (2019). American Literature throughout Its History. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2550204
Balkun, M. M. (2006). The American Counterfeit : Authenticity and Identity in American Literature and Culture. Tuscaloosa: University Alabama Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=279718
Wagner-Martin, L. (2013). A History of American Literature : 1950 to the Present. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=531595

Course Syllabus