This is the foundational course for all English majors. One goal of this course is to introduce
students to movements in the history of literature. The course will provide “snapshots” into a
host of different movements and examine how they relate, or do not relate, to
each other. For example, a question we
might ask ourselves as a class is how’s does Achebe’s Things Fall Apart relate to Greek tragedy? What aspects of Greek tragedy does Achebe
appropriate and what aspects does he revise? Another goal is to understand the production
of meaning and to develop close reading skills.
Books (Available at UH Bookstore)
Morrison, Toni. The
Bluest Eye
Figiel, Sia. Where we once Belonged
Achebe,
Chinua. Things Fall Apart
Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the
King; Oedipus at Colonus
Ama Ata Aidoo Our Sister Killjoy
Howarth,
Peter. The Cambridge Introduction to Modernist Poetry
Shakespeare,
William. The Tempest
Assignments
Midterm paper 5 – 6 pages
Final paper 5-6 pages
3 close readings 1 single-spaced page
3 scene interpretations 1 single spaced page
3 interpretations/explications of theoretical texts 1 single-spaced page