[Overview] [Requirements]
This course surveys American literature from the Civil War to the later twentieth century. It seeks a balance among various
genres: the novel, short fiction, drama, and poetry, along with among various perspectives on American life. Serious students in this
course can expect to become familiar with developments in American literature and the arts since 1865 and to acquire skills in literary analysis. Literary analysis here will be a process of close reading to discover: 1) the unique voice, technique, and accomplishment of individual literary works; 2) their reflection of and participation in broader cultural and social movements; 3) their ongoing relevance to readers today.
Baym, Nina, et al. eds. Norton Anthology of American Literature. 6th shorter ed. New York: Norton, 2003.