AJc220 American Culture, History and Literature 1

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/0/3. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Dita Hochmanová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Světlana Hanušová, 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
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJc220/OS01: Fri 27. 9. 12:00–14:50 učebna 59, Fri 11. 10. 12:00–14:50 učebna 59, Fri 25. 10. 12:00–14:50 učebna 59, Fri 8. 11. 12:00–14:50 učebna 59, Fri 22. 11. 12:00–14:50 učebna 59, Fri 6. 12. 12:00–14:50 učebna 59, D. Hochmanová
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
This is the first half of a survey course of American History and American Literature covering the period from the arrival of Europeans to the end of the 19th century. Its aim is to explore the major as well as some of the lesser-known writers, literary movements, major historical events, trends and cultural concepts and make meaningful connections between them; and also to provide the historical, literary and cultural background necessary for those intending to be become English language teachers.
At the end of this course, students should be able
1) to identify and evaluate the main currents of U.S. cultural history and especially their causes and consequences in relation to modern American culture and society
2) to understand how myths about America’s foundation and iconic historical events have been formulated, debated and challenged by American writers
3) to discuss the role of gender, culture and race in shaping the forms and themes of literary texts
In teacher training programs, students must develop a range of skills and competencies to be successful as teachers. Literary courses are instrumental in cultivating some of these skills, such as creative thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, intercultural awareness, and communicative competence.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able
1) to identify and evaluate the main currents of U.S. cultural history and especially their causes and consequences in relation to modern American culture and society
2) to understand how myths about America’s foundation and iconic historical events have been formulated, debated and challenged by American writers
3) to discuss the role of gender, culture and race in shaping the forms and themes of literary texts
Syllabus
  • Colonial Beginnings
  • History: Immigration and the National Character: Puritans - Studying the Seeds
  • Literature: William Bradford, Anne Bradstreet, Mary Rowlandson
  • Revolution and Enlightenment
  • History: From European to American: the road to revolution
  • Literature: Benjamin Franklin, Jean de Crevecoeur, The Declaration of Independence
  • America Moves West
  • History: The Frontier as a Movable Concept: Mobility and Family
  • Literature: romantic period; Edgar Allan Poe, Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • The Nation Divides
  • History: Sectionalism: North, South and Slavery
  • Literature: African American experience, slave narratives, folk tales, spirituals
  • America Transforms: Industrialism and Immigration
  • History: Industrialism and Immigration: the Emergence of the Modern Woman
  • Literature: Realism, Regionalism, Naturalism; Kate Chopin, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Zitkala Sa
Literature
  • 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
  • The Heath anthology of American literature. Edited by Paul Lauter. Lexington, Mass.: D.C. Heath, 1990, xxxix, 261. ISBN 0-669-12065-0. info
  • Columbia literary history of the United States. Edited by Emory Elliott. New York: Columbia University Press, 1988, xxviii, 12. ISBN 0-231-05812-8. info
Teaching methods
discussion-based seminars
group work
Assessment methods
1) a set of written response papers/worksheets
2) Colloquium
Náhradní absolvování
Students doing their Erasmus study stay abroad and students with IPS are not required to attend the classes, but they are obliged to submit all the required assignments.
Language of instruction
English
Study support
https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=2876
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 36 hodin.
Teacher's information
In the course, the use of AI is permitted for learning but not for cheating. It is acceptable to use AI for basic proofreading, and suggestions for improvement. It is unacceptable to have a text generated, translated or reformulated. Remember to acknowledge all innovative ideas that are not yours. For generated ideas, use in-text citations. At the end of each assignment, state how you worked/did not work with AI. When in doubt, consult your teacher.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
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