Department of English Language and Literature

3010-001

MW 5:30-6:50

FH 2820

3010-002

MW 2:30-3:50

FH 1700

Creative Writing - WAC

Geiger

The purpose of this class is to acquaint students with the art and craft of creative writing poetry and fiction.  To this end we will study the terminology and techniques used by writers, then put those techniques into practice through in-class exercises and revision.  For the most part, the class will be a discussion/workshop format; one half of the semester will be spent on fiction writing, the second half on poetry.  At the end of the semester students will assemble a portfolio of their own favorite short stories and poems to be turned in for a final grade.

3080-001

MW 12:55-2:15

FH 1310

Art & Process of the Book

Geiger

In this class students will learn about the history of the book, from scrolls, to the codex, to electronic publishing.  We will examine the relationship between authors and publishers, in regards to the American small-press movement, in order to develop a deeper appreciation for the concept of the book.  Students will learn the fundamentals of operating a small-press, and will have hands-on experience in the book arts, by producing (printing and binding) a limited edition letterpress chapbook of their own design.

3150/5150-001

(LING)

MW 2:30-3:50

UH 4440

Linguistic Principles

Reichelt

An introduction to modern linguistic theories about the nature and structure of language with emphasis on English.

3600-001

TR 9:35-10:55

FH 2050

American Literary Traditions

Bonifacio

Why do we study American literature? What makes American literature “American”? And how do we define this literature’s traditions and identify its major authors and figures? In this course, we will test the limits of these questions as we critically think, read, and write about the role American literature played, and still plays, in the everyday lives of readers. This course charts literatures from 16th and 17th-century European colonization of the Americas to the present-day U.S. We will study canonical and lesser-known writers working in numerous genres (nonfiction, fiction, and poetry) and how they conceived of literary writing as crucial to the political and cultural work of the nation. We will also study the major themes, tropes, plots, and styles that have come to shape what we today define as an “American literary tradition.”

More specifically, we will read many canonical and non-canonical literary texts to think about the significance of imaginative writing to conceptions of nation and self. We will ask what role writing and publishing played and plays in establishing political and social communities, what is the function of literature for citizenship, how literary genres evolved from the 16th to the 21st centuries, and how do these different genres allow readers to make sense of the past, present, and future? By the end of this course, we will learn skills for interpretation and evaluation, critical listening, reading, thinking, and writing. We will also cultivate a deeper understanding of colonization, race and ethnicity, national borders, and their impact on canon formation and nation building. Most importantly, perhaps, we will develop a deeper appreciation for literature of the Americas, as a literary tradition that exists beyond national borders and across languages, societies, and cultures.

3660-001

TR 11:10-12:30

FH 2050

Latinx Literature in the U.S.

Bonifacio

Latinx literature reflects the linguistic, cultural, and racial diversity of Latinx people in the U.S. In this class, you will be introduced to foundational concepts, authors, and works in Latinx literary studies. Beginning in 1960s and ending in the present moment, we will delve into the works of Chicanx, Cuban-American, Dominican-American, and Puerto Rican authors writing and publishing in the U.S. We will consider how their works represent and participate in revolution, economic crisis, labor rights, migration, colonization, decolonization, and mass incarceration. We will study the traditions, conflicts, aesthetics that forged at the borders of nation, language, and culture while at the same time examining Latinx-identity formation from the intersection of race, class, and gender. We will investigate specific literary and cultural forms, including poems, novels, scholarship, films, and music and the role they play in performing Latinidad. Some of our guiding questions for the course include: What roles do Latinx cultural objects play in identity formation? Do these objects project, suppress, or refuse stereotypes about Latinx identity and culture? We will also address questions about gender and sexuality to think about what it means to be “Latinx” as opposed to “Latino” or “Latina.” We will consider the political implications of Spanish and Spanglish and their place in assimilation, acculturation, and transculturation. These questions will help us critically examine, read, and appreciate the rich diversity, history, and influence of Latinx literature and culture. 

3770-001

TR 12:55-2:15

FH 2260

World Literatures & Cultures

Sarkar

This course, by focusing specifically on the theme of "crossing borders" in contemporary literature will explore how border crossings influence an individual’s identity in the twenty-first century. By examining literary works from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America, and adopting a multi-genre approach (fiction, memoir, poetry, and film), we will try to probe the reasons behind the increasing emphasis on “border crossing” in modern times. In particular, we will try to answer some of the following questions. How do transnational migration and a rapidly flourishing consumer culture affect individual identity in the twenty-first century? Does racial/sexual politics assume new dimensions with the rising tide of worldwide displacement and migration? How do migrants resolve tension between tradition and modernity?  Simultaneously, as we will discover, all the texts, in some form or other are “coming of age” narratives. So, through our analysis of world literature, we will also try to explore what it means to grow up and live in a twenty-first century world. Additionally, over the semester, students will be encouraged to develop critical thinking skills as well as hone their speaking and writing abilities.

3790-071

TR 4:00-5:20

FH 2840

Foundations of Lit Study – WAC

Fitzgerald

Foundations of Literary Study introduces students to the discipline of English literary studies, its methods, and its specialized language. It is also a Writing Across the Curriculum class, and so also focuses on putting those methods and that specialized language into practice in writing. For the English major, this course provides the necessary foundation on which to build more specialized study in upper-level historical period and single author courses. For the non-major and major alike, the skills learned in this class – close reading, persuasive writing, marshaling of textual evidence in service of an interpretive argument, and more general writing and critical thinking skills – will serve you well the rest of your life in a variety of situations both professional and personal. Primary texts will come from the major genre categories – poetry (lyric and narrative), prose fiction (short and long form), and drama – and will range across British, American, and Anglophone literature, and from medieval to post-modern literature. Secondary texts will likely include a handbook of literary terms and articles demonstrating various approaches to the primary texts we read.  Requirements will consist of a series of short analytical papers to hone skills, plus medium-length papers in which you put multiple skills into practice. Active participation and engagement will also be required.

3810-001

MW 12:55-2:15

FH 2050

Shakespeare I

Gamble

In this class we will read widely across Shakespeare’s body of work, covering each of the dramatic genres—comedy, tragedy, history, and romance—in which he wrote. By the end of the class, you will have a greater appreciation for Shakespeare, both on the page and on the stage; more deft close reading, critical thinking, and analytic skills; and a sharpened capacity to teach his works, should you find yourself in such a position. We will be especially interested in a wide range of topics raised by Shakespeare’s plays, including but not limited to: gender, race, sexuality, religion, nationality, and class; friendship and family; the philosophical and political concept of “the State”; performance and theatre history; literary and rhetorical concepts like metaphor, address, character, and genre; and the history of the book as a physical object.

4070-071

TR 9:35-10:55

HH 2603

Writing Workshop: Poetry - WAC

Pearson

This course gives you the opportunity to write and read poetry extensively. We will discuss a range of modern and contemporary poetry and engage with various media on poetic craft and theory. The goal is to have you expand both as a writer and a reader.

Practically speaking, you will formally workshop four to six poems over the term. I anticipate we will do a fair amount of in-class writing around various conversations and prompts. This will allow you to implement both the creative and critical skills that we will develop throughout the semester. Part of the class will center around in-class discussions of the assigned readings, preplanned lessons, and spontaneous discussion, and the other part of the class will be workshop. You will be required to share your work in this class, as well as be able to take constructive criticism from both your professor and your peers.

4080-071

MW 2:30-3:50

HH 2601

Writing Workshop-Fiction

Stroud

In this class you'll each workshop two stories.  You'll also deepen your understanding of craft through readings and discussions.  Be prepared to write, read, and talk. 

4650-001

TR 2:30-3:50

UH 4500

African American Writers Pre 20^th Century

Bonifacio

[Description to be posted soon]

4680/5680-001

MW 11:10-12:30

FH 2050

American Literature since WWII

Stroud

An undergraduate survey of American Literature written after 1950. We will read poetry and fiction by a good number of authors, which may include John Ashbery, Gwendolyn Brooks, Raymond Carver, Joy Williams, Don DeLillo, Allen Ginsberg, Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Frank O’Hara, Adrienne Rich, John Updike, George Saunders, Philip Roth, David Foster Wallace, Junot Diaz, Jennifer Egan, Rachel Kushner, Charles Johnson, and others. We’ll examine the several literary movements of this period (the beats, postmodernism, dirty realism and more) and consider the connections between what we read and its larger cultural context. Students will write essays and take exams, among other activities.

4850/5850-001

TR 12:55-2:14

FH 2050

British Author: Marie de France

Fitzgerald

Marie de France, who wrote in 12th century England, is the first known female poet in England (where she lived and wrote) or France (where she was from). That significance alone is a reason to read and study her, but just as important, her works are also simply a delight! She wrote a series of short romances called The Lais, which feature stories of werewolves, fairies, shape-shifters, and King Arthur’s knights, among other tales; often center women in their plots; and offer a spectrum of desires and sexualities. She also wrote a collection of beast fables in the style of Aesop’s fables, which speak to ethical and moral values. She also possibly wrote a mystical narrative called St. Patrick’s Purgatory, and maybe also The Life of St. Audrey, who was herself an impressive medieval English woman. We will read all of the Lais, many of the fables, and parts of the saints’ tales. We will also read some of Marie’s contemporary male writers to put her in context of her literary world. Take this class and discover your new favorite author! Assignments will likely include a series of short essay and a final paper or project.

6980-001

R 4:00-6:45

FH 1460

Seminar: Special Topics Ghosts of the Empire

Sarkar

[Description to be posted soon.]