Text Box: Studies in American Literature: “The Critical Scene” Professor Stacy Hubbard MWF 10:00 - 10:50 Reg. No. 059510 Text Box: 342 Text Box: This is a course for advanced English majors interested in exploring some of the key critical debates which have shaped contemporary American literary and cultural studies. Although this is not a chronological survey of American literature, we will read a variety of literary works from the colonial period through the present and a substantial selection of critical articles which discuss these texts. We will also read one or two book-length works of literary criticism and survey recent issues of the major academic journals focusing on American literature and culture. Possible topics to be covered include Native American traditions; transnationalism; American exceptionalism; sentimentalism; realism and naturalism; African-American women’s writing; queer writing; vernacular modernism; Latino/a literatures; feminist revisions of the canon; and approaches to popular genres. The course may be of particular use to those who intend to write honors theses on American literature, or to pursue graduate studies in English, and will enable the latter to develop appropriate writing samples for submission to graduate programs. Assignments will include several brief analyses of critical articles; occasional responsibility for formulating discussion questions; and two critical research essays of approximately eight pages each (or, with permission, one fifteen-page research paper). N.B.: Since good research skills are crucial for this course, it is strongly recommended that students either complete English 301: Criticism before registering, or register for the two courses simultaneously. Students must have completed their Writing Skills requirement (English 101 and 201 or 102) BEFORE registering for this course. This course satisfies a later literature requirement. Text Box: The readings for the semester will be drawn from the following: William Carlos Williams, Spring and All; Wallace Stevens, The Auroras of Autumn; Frank O'Hara, Lunch Poems; Charles Reznikoff, Testimony: The U.S. 1885-1890; Jack Spicer, After Lorca; George Oppen, Of Being Numerous; Robert Duncan, Groundwork: Before the War; Susan Howe, Singularities; Harryette Mullen, Trimmings; Michael Palmer, Notes for Echo Lake; Cecilia Vicuna, Unravelling Words and Weaving Water; Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Dictee. Other authors and/or titles we may include: Lorine Niedecker, North Central; John Ashbery, Flow Chart; Elizabeth Bishop, Questions of Travel; Adrienne Rich, Charles Olson, Lyn Hejinian. Whenever possible, we will read discursive prose from the poets themselves in conjunction with a wide range of critical essays that illuminate the ideas under discussion. Class format: a combination of lectures and discussion with strong emphasis on student participation. Faithful attendance, thorough preparation, and active, thoughtful participation is a must. Other basic requirements include weekly response papers, a short paper due mid-semester, and a longer final project/essay due at the end of the semester. You must have completed the writing skills requirement (ENG 101/201 or 102) before registering for this class. Previous coursework on poetry (for example, ENG 252) is strongly recommended. This course satisfies a later literature requirement.