ENGL 320.101

Contemporary Literature

NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.

Course Description: This course examines recent works of American fiction that exemplify distinctive features of contemporary life. Like the literature of any time, contemporary literature is to some extent shaped by social and cultural changes, while at the same time it helps to shape our understanding of those changes. We will be reading works whose subject matter, narrative strategies, and themes have been shaped by various events, issues, and concerns in our culture. We will also be exploring the ways in which these works embody some of the distinctive aspects and tendencies of contemporary American fiction, such as the blurring of boundaries between different forms of discourse; the relationship between reality and representation; a preoccupation with the concept of identity; the saturation of our lives by popular culture; and a self-conscious experimentation with literary genres and forms.

Texts:

Tim O'Brien, In the Lake of the Woods (1994)

Don DeLillo, White Noise (1985)

E.L. Doctorow, Ragtime (1975)

Charles Johnson, Middle Passage (1990)

Bharati Mukherjee, Jasmine (1989)

Requirements:

Regular class attendance and participation in discussions

Two exams: A take-home exam

An in-class exam

Essay of 3-4 typewritten pages. Possible topics and approaches will be discussed in class.

Grading:

In determining your grade for the course, I will weigh the various aspects of your performance as follows:

Take-home Exam: 1/3

In-class Exam: 1/3

Essay: 1/3

Note: Excessive absences (more than two) will adversely affect your grade for the course, as will repeated evidence of lack of preparation.

Class Schedule

WEEK 1 Introduction & Overview

I. "American Magic and Dread"

WEEK 2 O'Brien, In the Lake of the Woods (pp. 1-146)

WEEK 3 In the Lake of the Woods (pp. 147-303)

WEEK 4 DeLillo, White Noise (pp. 1-105)

WEEK 5 White Noise (pp. 107-211)

WEEK 6 White Noise (pp. 212-326)

WEEK 7 Take-home exam due; Screen film

WEEK 8 Discuss film

II. Re-visioning History and the Self

WEEK 9 Doctorow, Ragtime (pp. 1-177)

WEEK 10 Ragtime (pp. 179-270)

WEEK 11 Johnson, Middle Passage (pp. 1-99)

WEEK 12 Middle Passage (pp. 100-209)

WEEK 13 Mukherjee, Jasmine (pp. 3-121)

WEEK 14 Jasmine (pp. 122-241)

WEEK 15 In-class exam: 2:30-4:30

last date to submit essay




			ENGL 320.101 Contemporary Literature NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester. *Course Description:* This course examines recent works of American fiction that exemplify distinctive features of contemporary life. Like the literature of any time, contemporary literature is to some extent shaped by social and cultural changes, while at the same time it helps to shape our understanding of those changes. We will be reading works whose subject matter, narrative strategies, and themes have been shaped by various events, issues, and concerns in our culture. We will also be exploring the ways in which these works embody some of the distinctive aspects and tendencies of contemporary American fiction, such as the blurring of boundaries between different forms of discourse; the relationship between reality and representation; a preoccupation with the concept of identity; the saturation of our lives by popular culture; and a self-conscious experimentation with literary genres and forms. *Texts:* Tim O'Brien, In the Lake of the Woods (1994) Don DeLillo, White Noise (1985) E.L. Doctorow, Ragtime (1975) Charles Johnson, Middle Passage (1990) Bharati Mukherjee, Jasmine (1989) *Requirements:* Regular class attendance and participation in discussions Two exams: A take-home exam An in-class exam Essay of 3-4 typewritten pages. Possible topics and approaches will be discussed in class. *Grading:* In determining your grade for the course, I will weigh the various aspects of your performance as follows: Take-home Exam: 1/3 In-class Exam: 1/3 Essay: 1/3 Note: Excessive absences (more than two) will adversely affect your grade for the course, as will repeated evidence of lack of preparation. *Class Schedule* WEEK 1 Introduction & Overview I. "American Magic and Dread" WEEK 2 O'Brien, In the Lake of the Woods (pp. 1-146) WEEK 3 In the Lake of the Woods (pp. 147-303) WEEK 4 DeLillo, White Noise (pp. 1-105) WEEK 5 White Noise (pp. 107-211) WEEK 6 White Noise (pp. 212-326) WEEK 7 Take-home exam due; Screen film WEEK 8 Discuss film II. Re-visioning History and the Self WEEK 9 Doctorow, Ragtime (pp. 1-177) WEEK 10 Ragtime (pp. 179-270) WEEK 11 Johnson, Middle Passage (pp. 1-99) WEEK 12 Middle Passage (pp. 100-209) WEEK 13 Mukherjee, Jasmine (pp. 3-121) WEEK 14 Jasmine (pp. 122-241) WEEK 15 In-class exam: 2:30-4:30 last date to submit essay home \| bs, corporate communication \| ba, english \| ma, publications design \| mfa, integrated design \| mfa, creative writing & publishing arts \| people \| portfolio \| facilities \| classes \| undergraduate applications \| graduate applications \| contact \| site index \| university of baltimore