AJ2MK_SAML Seminar to American literature of the 20th century

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/0/1. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jiří Šalamoun, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
On the course, students read canonical examples of contemporary US literature to examine some quintessentially American questions: Can the American dream still be lived? How is meaning found in postwar America? What motivates American writers to create art? In practice, we will read texts by Updike and Cheever in the context of abundant yet anxious 1950s and 60s. We will discuss works by Barth and Barthelme in the light of America's (at first) playful (and then) exhausted three decades long romance with postmodernity. Graphic texts by Eisner and Spiegelman will be discussed as the source to the rise of graphic novel (and to a lesser extent) ethnic literature. Finally, texts by Walker, Silko, and Kingston will be discussed in connection to America's nod towards feminist and ethnic awareness.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
1) identify and describe major trends in postwar American literature and understand their relationship to American society and culture;
2) develop your skills in analytical reading and proposal writing;
3) research, prepare, and hand in a proposal which meets the requirements of the State Exam in literature;
4) understand and frame literary works as a form of social commentary which responds to specific historical occurrences
Syllabus
  • John Updike, “A&P”
  • John Cheever, “The Swimmer”
  • John Barth, “Lost in the Funhouse”
  • Donald Barthelme, “The School”
  • Art Spiegelman, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale
  • Will Eisner, A Contract with God
  • Alice Walker, “Everyday Use”
  • Ralph Ellison, The Invisible Man (chapter 1, “Battle Royal”)
  • Leslie Marmon Silko, “Yellow Woman”
  • Maxine Hong Kingston, The Woman Warrior (chapter 1, “No Name Woman”)
Literature
    required literature
  • VanSpanckere, Kathryn: Outline of American Literature, online version, rev. ed. 2006
    recommended literature
  • HILFER, Anthony Channell. American fiction since 1940. London: Longman, 1992, x, 290. ISBN 0582493501. info
  • A concise companion to postwar American literature and culture. Edited by Josephine G. Hendin. Malden: Blackwell, 2004, xii, 430. ISBN 1405121807. info
  • The Columbia history of the American novel. Edited by Emory Elliott - Cathy N. Davidson. New York: Columbia University, 1991, xviii, 905. ISBN 0-231-07360-7. info
Teaching methods
Discussion, small group work, lecture, in class writing exercises.
Assessment methods
Weekly writing exercises (25%)
Participation (20%)
In-class low-stakes writing (5%)
A research proposal consisting of annotated bibliography and an abstract (50%).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hodin.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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