AJ15000 American Literature: Beginnings to 1865

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Taught online.
Teacher(s)
doc. Jeffrey Alan Smith, M.A., Ph.D. (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
Wed 18:00–19:40 K21
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( AJ09999 Qualifying Examination || AJ01002 Practical English II ) && AJ04003 Intro. to Literary Studies II
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
A survey of American literature from the colonial period through the Civil War. The course prepares students to identify key authors, developments and movements in early American literature and culture and to explain their significance and interrelationships. It also lays the basis for further study of American literature and culture, both in the subsequent courses in the American literature sequence and in other courses and thesis work.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to identify important authors, issues, developments and movements in early American literature and culture and to explain their significance and interrelationships. They will be better able to analyze particular literary works in their cultural context, and will be prepared for further study of American literature and culture, both in the subsequent courses of the American literature sequence and in other courses and thesis work.
Syllabus
  • Assigned readings have in most cases been excerpted and arranged specifically for the course, and therefore should be accessed on the course ELF site in the folder for each given week.
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  • WEEK 1
  • 14 October: BACKGROUND AND CONCEPTS FOR STUDYING EARLY AMERICAN LITERATURE
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  • WEEK 2
  • 21 October: ENVISIONING THE “NEW-FOUND-LAND”
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  • WEEK 3
  • 28 October: National holiday, NO CLASS MEETING
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  • WEEK 4
  • 4 November: THE AMERICAN FOUNDING
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  • WEEK 5
  • 11 November: NEOCLASSICISM AND CHANGING STYLES
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  • WEEK 6
  • 18 November: Reading week, NO CLASS MEETING
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  • WEEK 7
  • 25 November: INVERSIONS AND SATIRES
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  • WEEK 8
  • 2 December: RACE AND SLAVERY
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  • WEEK 9
  • 9 December: THE HAUNTED PAST
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  • WEEK 10
  • 16 December: THE "AMERICAN RENAISSANCE"
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  • WEEK 11
  • 6 January: REVISIONISM AND PROTEST
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  • WEEK 12
  • 13 January: CRISIS AND WAR
Literature
    required literature
  • GRAY, Richard J. A brief history of American literature. 1st pub. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, x, 410. ISBN 9781405192309. info
  • ELLIOTT, Emory. The Cambridge introduction to early American literature. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, viii, 198. ISBN 0-521-52041-X. info
    recommended literature
  • A handbook of American literature : for students of English. Edited by Zbigniew Lewicki. Warsaw: U.S. Embassy, vi, 256. info
  • Democracy, revolution, and monarchism in early American literature. Edited by Paul Downes. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002, xii, 239 p. ISBN 0521813395. info
Teaching methods
Class presentations and discussion (online via "Zoom"); readings, film/video viewings; postings on ELF.
Assessment methods
85% final exam (date during the exam period TBA); 10% attendance in virtual class meetings; 5% ungraded response postings (3 total) following instructions on ELF.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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Teacher's information
Assigned readings, and other works not presented in class, will be posted to ELF.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2020/AJ15000