The topic of this seminar will be Literature, Class, and Culture. We will focus on depictions of class and work within 20th century American literature, with special attention to working-class writers..
Prerequisites: completion of 18 units of upper division English and senior standing.
Requirements: one short essay, a midterm and final, and a longer research paper. In addition, everyone will give one oral presentation on assigned material.
Grading:
Shorter paper: 10%
Long paper: 30%
Exams: 40%
Participation, including oral presentation: 20%
Texts:
Pietro DiDonato, Christ in Concrete, 1937
Thomas Bell, Out of this Furnace, 1941
William Attaway, Blood on the Forge, 1941
Tomás Rivera, And the Earth Did not Devour Him, 1971
Coles & Oresick, For a Living: the Poetry of Work, 1995
Ben Hamper, Rivethead, 1992,
Carolyn Chute, Letourneauís Used Auto Parts, 1988
Sandra Martz, If I had a Hammer: Womenís Work, Papier Mache
Press, 1990
A packet of Poetry, including "Break of Day" and "Sharecroppers," Sterling
Brown, etc. available in English dept.
Recommended: Lunsford/Connors, Easy Writer: A Pocket Guide St. Martin's
1. Feb. 20
Intro
2. Feb. 27
DiDonato
3. March 6
DiDonato
Reader:
4. March 13 - First Short Essay Due
Bell
5. March 20
Bell
Reader:
6. March 27 - Midterm
Attaway
7. April 3
Attaway
Reader:
8. April 10
Rivera
April 16-20 Spring Break
9. April 24
Chute
Reader:
10. May 1 (May Day!)
Chute/Hamper
Reader
11. May 8
Hamper
Reader:
12. May 15
Martz
13. May 22 - Longer Paper Due
Poets
Final Exam: take home