8:00A-9:15A  TR  (30) 3 cr

In this survey of American literature following the Civil War and up to World War I, we shall
read poetry, short fiction, and novels by eleven authors: Dickinson, Davis, Twain, Howells,
James, Crane, Gilman, Chopin, Dreiser, Jewett and Wharton.  In addition to considering the
growth of American literary realism in its many forms, we shall be noticing certain themes in our
literature: the rise of the city and of urban problems, changes in the roles of women, and
increasing American sophistication/darkening of mood.  We'll read some regional writing,
popular during this period.  There will be little formal lecturing; rather, emphasis will be on class
discussion.  I'll present several slide-lectures on painting of the period and on the rise of the city,
and we'll listen to some turn-of-the-century popular music, all in an attempt to put the literature
in a wider context of cultural history.

Students will write two papers, one an analysis of Dickinson's poetry, and one a larger research
paper, and take a midterm and final exam.  The book list follows:

Dickinson, FINAL HARVEST (poetry)
Twain, THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
Howells, A MODERN INSTANCE
James, THE TALES OF HENRY JAMES
Crane, THE PORTABLE STEPHEN CRANE
Chopin, THE AWAKENING
Dreiser, SISTER CARRIE
C.G. Wolff, ed., FOUR STORIES BY AMERICAN WOMEN