AJ2BK_AMLI American literature

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2018
Extent and Intensity
0/0/1. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Pavla Buchtová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ2BK_AMLI/01: Fri 5. 10. 8:00–9:50 učebna 10, Fri 19. 10. 8:00–9:50 učebna 10, Fri 2. 11. 8:00–9:50 učebna 10, Fri 16. 11. 8:00–9:50 učebna 10, Fri 30. 11. 8:00–9:50 učebna 10, Fri 14. 12. 8:00–9:50 učebna 10, P. Buchtová
Prerequisites
Read required books, study from the list of recommended literature, attend regularly.
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
The course provides an introduction to the development of American literature from its colonial beginnings to the middle of the 20th century, focusing on typical American themes and genres, as reflected in non-fiction, fiction, and poetry.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able
1) to understand how myths about America’s foundation and iconic historical events have been formulated, debated and challenged by American writers
2) to discuss the role of gender, culture and race in shaping the forms and themes of literary texts
Syllabus
  • Fall 2011:
  • Theme 1: Introduction; literary survey.
  • Theme 2: Promises and visions (the Bible in American literature.
  • Theme 3: Exploration and encouters (essays, letters, narratives, autobiographies.)
  • Theme 4: Heroes and anti-heroes (novels, male writers).
  • Theme 5: Regions and identity (novels, South and West).
  • Theme 6: Finding her voice (female writers).
  • Theme 7: Race and identity (African American, Jewish American, Native American).
  • Theme 8: Tell it true (oral literature).
  • Theme 9: Social issues (the American dream).
  • Theme 10: Poetry (great American themes.)
Literature
    required literature
  • VANSPANCKEREN, Kathryn. Nástin americké literatury. [Praha]: Informační agentura Spojených států, 137 s. info
    recommended literature
  • BRADBURY, Malcolm. Od puritanismu k postmodernismu : dějiny americké literatury. Edited by Richard Ruland, Translated by Marcel Arbeit. Vyd. 1. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1997, 492 s. ISBN 8020405860. info
  • BRADBURY, Malcolm and Richard RULAND. From puritanism to postmodernism : a history of American literature. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1991, 456 s. ISBN 0-14-014435-8. info
  • The Columbia history of the American novel. Edited by Emory Elliott - Cathy N. Davidson. New York: Columbia University, 1991, xviii, 905. ISBN 0-231-07360-7. info
  • An Early American Reader. Washington: US Inf.Agency, 1990, 741 s. info
  • An early American reader. Edited by J. A. Leo Lemay. Washington: United States Information Agency, 1988, xxiii, 741. info
Teaching methods
Lectures and comments on selected texts.
Assessment methods
- follow lecture notes, key terms, primary and secondary materials on the moodlinka
- read required literature
- pass an oral colloqy
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 12 hodin.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2011, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2018, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/autumn2018/AJ2BK_AMLI