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Morrison and Erdrich Dr. Susan Farrell
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This course will provide an intensive study of the fiction, poetry, and criticism of two of the most prominent and respected of contemporary American writers: Toni Morrison and Louise Erdrich. We will explore the works of these authors in social and historical context, examining how the two writers answer the large question of what it means to be a contemporary American, particularly for women and for members of racial minority groups. |
Books:
Toni Morrison:
The Bluest Eye (1970)
Sula (1973)
Song of Solomon (1977)
Beloved (1987)
Jazz (1992)
Louise Erdrich:
Love Medicine (1984)
The Beet Queen (1986)
Tracks (1988)
The Crown of Columbus (1991)
Tales of Burning Love
(1996)
Jacklight (1984)
Course Packet of supplemental readings (available at SAS-E Ink, 79 Wentworth St.)
Short Research Papers, Class
Presentations
You will be responsible for
completing and presenting to class two short research exercises during
the course of the semester. Each student will choose(or be assigned)
one Morrison book and one Erdrich book to work on. One of the research
exercises will be a short (2-3 page) reception history of a book with a
bibliography of relevant book reviews. The other will be a ten-item
annotated bibliography of critical arguments published about the book.
These research assignments
will be due on the day we discuss the book in class. Students are
also responsible for presenting their research findings to the class on
that day. Your research findings must be summarized in a handout,
which will be distributed to the entire class.
Position Papers
Written work also includes
five short (500-600 word) position papers on the books we read this semester.
You will not write a position paper on the books that you research for
your bibliography. You may choose four other position papers you
want to omit. Specific topics, which the position papers should address,
will be handed out the week before we begin each book. These papers
are fairly informal; they are intended to be speculative and to provoke
discussion. Be prepared to read your position paper out loud.
Position papers are due the day we read a work. No late position
papers will be accepted.
Final Paper
You will write a 15-20 page
final research paper which will be due the last day of class. The
topic of this paper will be up to you, but it must address a work (or works)
that appear on the course syllabus. It would be to your benefit to
include at least one of the books you already worked on in your short research
exercises (since you will already have done a lot of the legwork), but
you're not absolutely required to do so. In any case, you should
discuss your topic with me in advance (either during my offic hours or
by appointment). This paper should offer an original argument about
one or more of the works on the syllabus, but it should also be placed
in an appropriate critical context. Therefore, you will need to consult,
analyze, and integrate secondary material into your essay.
Exams
There will be a final exam
in the course. I will give you more information about it toward the
end of the semester.
Your final grade will be determined according to these percentages:
*Works marked with a star are available in the course packet of supplementary readings.
Week 1: August 23
Course
Introduction
Week 2: September 30
The
Bluest Eye; *"Rootedness: The Ancestor as Foundation"
Week 3: September 6
Sula;
*Stepto interview
Week 4: September 13
Song
of Solomon; *LeClair interview
Week 5: September 20
Beloved;
*Darling interview
Week 6: September 27
Jazz
Week 7: October 4
Love
Medicine; * Laura Coltellli interview
Week 8: October 11
The
Beet Queen; *Hertha Wong interview
Week 9: October 18
Tracks;
*"Who Owns the Land?"
Week 10: October 25
The
Crown of Columbus; *Bill Moyers interview
Week 11: November 1
Tales
of Burning Love
Week 12: November 8
Jacklight;
*Joseph Bruchac interview
Week 13: November 15
Presentation
of Abstracts
Week 14: November 22
Thanksgiving
Week 15: November 29
Class Wrap-Up
Final Exam: Wednesday, December 6, 4-7 p.m.