English (ENGL) 345
American Literature II

This version of ENGL 345 closed October 6, 2004. To current version.

Delivery mode: Individualized study
Credits: 3 - Humanities
Prerequisite: ENGL 211 and ENGL 212 or equivalent first year English course(s) are strongly recommended but not required.
Centre: Centre for Language and Literature
Challenge for Credit: This course has a Challenge for Credit option.
Learn more online: Course/Program Information

>> Overview | Outline | Evaluation | Course Materials | Course Fees | Course Availability


Overview

This course follows the introduction to American literature begun in ENGL 344. ENGL 345 continues the exploration of the history and development of American literature and its rich variety of forms and techniques. The course takes as its focus works of American literature written from approximately 1900 to the present. Beginning with literary developments at the turn of the twentieth century, the course then introduces the literary movements of Naturalism, Modernism, and Regionalism. Finally, it examines postwar and contemporary works for current cultural trends. Students study written works from a variety of genres, styles, racial and ethnic backgrounds and, through this critical survey, develop a deeper understanding of the main issues and movements shaping American culture today.

Note: Since this is a senior course, we expect students to have good reading and writing skills as well as the basic critical tools and knowledge of literary forms and techniques that are acquired in an introductory university English literature course like Athabasca University's English 211 and 212. Students who do not have the recommended credits in an introductory English literature course may experience significant difficulty with the essay assignments and examinations.

Outline

  • Lesson 1: The Portrait of a Lady
  • Lesson 2: Regionalism
  • Lesson 3: Naturalism
  • Lesson 4: American Modernism
  • Lesson 5: High Modernism
  • Lesson 6: The Harlem Renaissance
  • Lesson 7: William Faulkner
  • Lesson 8: Ernest Hemingway
  • Lesson 9: John Steinbeck
  • Lesson 10: Postwar Prose
  • Lesson 11: Postwar Poetry
  • Lesson 12: Contemporary Poetry and Prose
  • Lesson 13: Beloved

Evaluation

To receive credit for ENGL 345, students must achieve a composite course grade of at least "D" (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:

Essay 1Essay 2Final ExamTotal
20%40%40%100%

Note: The challenge for credit process in this course will be graded on a pass/fail rather than a percentage basis.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Fifth Ed.

James, Henry. The Portrait of a Lady.

Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath.

Morrison, Toni. Beloved.

Other material

The course materials include a study guide and student manual.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

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Revision 2 opened July 17/01. To archived version.
This page was updated by G. Zahara