A2BK_AM19 American Literature till the 19th century

Faculty of Education
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/0/1. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Pavla Buchtová (lecturer)
Michael George, M.A. (lecturer)
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
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( A2BK_PJ1B Practical Language 1B && A2BK_GR1B Grammar B && A2BK_SFFB Phonetics Seminar B ) || A2BK_SOZK Complex Exam
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 survey course examines American literature from the colonial times to the end of the nineteenth century. We will explore the major writers and literary movements (romanticism, realism, regionalism, naturalism) as well as some of the lesser known authors and works of the period.
This course encourages students to think about the texts and discuss them in the class. The discussions will focus on the cultural and historical contexts from which the texts arise.
At the end of this course, students should be able to discuss the effects European colonization had on Native American populations in North America; explain the basic theological principles of the Quaker and Puritan faiths; understand the role of literature in both shaping and reflecting political reform movements; explain the relationship between eighteenth-century Enlightenment ideals and nineteenth-century Romanticism; understand the basic tenets of realism, regionalism and naturalism.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to discuss the effects European colonization had on Native American populations in North America; explain the basic theological principles of the Quaker and Puritan faiths; understand the role of literature in both shaping and reflecting political reform movements; explain the relationship between eighteenth-century Enlightenment ideals and nineteenth-century Romanticism; understand the basic tenets of realism, regionalism and naturalism.
Syllabus
  • 1. Colonial literature
  • 2. Revolution and Enlightenment
  • 3. Romantic period
  • 4. Transcendentalism
  • 5. Prose romance
  • 6. African-American literature
  • 7. 19th century poetry
  • 8. Realism I
  • 9. Realism II
  • 10. Regionalism
  • 11. Naturalism
Literature
  • The Norton anthology of American literature. Edited by Nina Baym. 6th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2003, s. 1071-19. ISBN 0393979008. info
  • BRADBURY, Malcolm and Richard RULAND. From puritanism to postmodernism : a history of American literature. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1991, 456 s. ISBN 0-14-014435-8. 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-based seminar
Assessment methods
1) A reading journal in which you record your reactions, questions, and comments on the assigned readings
2) Presentation of a novel or a collection of short stories
3) Credit test (passmark 70 %)
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12hodin.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2020, Spring 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/spring2019/A2BK_AM19