L369 9961 STUDIES IN BRITISH AND AMERICAN AUTHORS
Gareth Evans

1:25p-2:15p MWF (30 students) 3 cr., A&H.

TOPIC: “Melville”

Much of the course will be an intensive study of Moby Dick—a book about a whale and a whale of a book. We’ll also read Melville’s first novel, Typee, as well as the best known of his three short novels: Bartleby, The Scrivener, Benito Cereno, and Billy Budd. We will pay attention to how Melville does what he does; that is to say, we will ask what makes Melville, Melvillean. Such reading will depend, in part, on placing Melville’s work in its literary and historical context. We will also be concerned with the ethical, moral, and political issues addressed in Melville’s work.

Reading:
Herman Melville, Moby-Dick: An Authoritative Text (Norton Critical Edition).
Herman Melville, Melville’s Short Novels. (Norton Critical Edition)
Herman Melville, Typee. (New Riverside Edition)

Requirements: In class participation, two 6-8 page essays, an exam, a short presentation on an aspect of secondary criticism, a series of responses to prompts intended to initiate class discussion. The presentation must be submitted as a 4-6 page essay. The essay version of the presentation must be accompanied by a bibliography that would be useful to a scholar studying the topic.

Note: Students must buy the editions of Melville’s work listed above. In all other respects, the syllabus and requirements are subject to change.