AJ45011 American Literature (20th Century)

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Katarína Havran, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martina Horáková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Tomáš Varga (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jana Chamonikolasová, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each even Friday 15:50–17:25 G31
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( AJ40999 Qualifying Examination || AJ41002 Practical English II ) && AJ44001 Intro. to Literary Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Emphasizing the interconnections between literature and history, this course traces the development of US literature in the twentieth century. Reading a variety of genres, we will examine works by authors from different geographical regions and ethnic backgrounds.
The aims of the course include: to prepare students to read critically, to analyze both primary and secondary texts orally as well as in writing, to conduct literary research, to write research papers.
Syllabus
  • Syllabus:
  • Session 1, Oct 6th: American Historical Novel (Martina Horáková)
  • Readings: David Guterson, Snow Falling on Cedars (1994)
  • Assignment: response paper (submit in ELF)
  • Session 2, Oct 20th: American Drama (Tomáš Varga)
  • Readings: Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire (1947)
  • Assignment: response paper
  • Session 3, Nov 3rd: Mexican American (Chicano) Literature (Katarína Havranová)
  • Readings: Sandra Cisneros, House on Mango Street (1984)
  • Assignment: response paper
  • Session 4, Dec 1st: African American Novel (Martina Horáková)
  • Readings: Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987)
  • Assignment: response paper
  • Session 5, Dec 15th: Native American Storytelling (Martina Horáková)
  • Readings: Louise Erdrich, Tracks (1988)
  • Assignment: response paper
Literature
  • MORRISON, Toni. Beloved. London: Vintage, 1997, 275 s. ISBN 0099288052. info
  • GUTERSON, David. Snow falling on cedars. 1st Vintage Contemporaries e. New York: Vintage Books, 1995, xiii, 460. ISBN 0-679-76402-X. info
  • CISNEROS, Sandra. The house on Mango Street. 1st Vintage Contemporaries e. New York: Vintage Books, 1991, 110 s. ISBN 0679734775. info
  • ERDRICH, Louise. Tracks. 1st ed. New York: Perennial Library, 1989, 226 s. ISBN 0060972459. info
  • WILLIAMS, Tennessee. A streetcar named Desire and other plays. Edited by E. Martin Browne - Tennessee Williams. London: Penguin Books, 1959, 313 s. ISBN 014018385X. info
Teaching methods
Class sessions will include mini-lectures, group and class discussions, writing short response papers and submitting a final research paper.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
General note: This course is NOT designated for Erasmus students! List of courses offerd by the Department of English and American studies for Erasmsus students is available at http://www.phil.muni.cz/wkaa/ under "Information for Erasmus students".
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: This course is NOT designated for Erasmus students! List of courses offerd by the Department of English and American studies for Erasmsus students is available at http://www.phil.muni.cz/wkaa/ under "Information for Erasmus students".
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2009, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2017, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2017/AJ45011