Nature and Goals of the Course

Although we will make side references to 20th-century American poetry, non-fiction prose, short stories, and drama, the focus of the course will be a select group of significant book-length works of fiction. We begin with three early 20th-century "classics" and conclude with well-known late 20th-century novels. Thus besides a genre focus (fiction), a chronological progression helps to structure the course. Just as or more important to the course's organization and goals are three issues central to the development of modern American fiction: the creation of an "American" form of book-length fiction, the importance of race and region in defining representation of identity in the fictions, and hopes and fear about the modern world that invite visions of utopia, dystopia, and apocalypse. In our discussions of Anderson, Hemingway, and Fitzgerald we will focus on form, though dystopian and utopian elements are evident in Hemingway and Fitzgerald's works. For Hurston, Faulkner, and Morrison we focus on race (and region and historical period) in representations of identity. Visions of late 20th-century and future-time utopia, dystopia, and apocalypse dominate Pynchon's and Piercy's fictions. We conclude with two fictions -- Anaya's Bless Me Ultima and Silko's Ceremony -- that reflect all three issues expressed in narratives of sickness and healing.

By the end of the course, students who have done the readings and participated in class and group discussions and successfully completed the exams and the paper should (1) have a meaningful familiarity with ten of the most significant modern American book-length fictions; (2) have a good introduction of several forms of fiction (e.g., Gatsby's beautifully unified mythos; Anderson's, Hemingway's, and Faulkner's combinations of short-story and novel forms; Hurston's, Faulkner's, Morrison's, Anaya's, and Silko's combinations of oral narratives [folklore and myth] and fiction; Pynchon's apocalyptic mystery tale; Piercy's ambiguous utopia speculation, and Silko combinations of poetry and fiction); (3) have an understanding of how the three issues can be used to interpret these (and other) American fictions; and (4) have the confidence to express their interpretations in the context of published criticism (in the research paper).

Required Readings

Note: Since many of the books assigned are "classics," it is likely that many of you have already read several or even most of them. For you this will be a re-reading course. If, however, you have not read any of the books, this will be a fairly "heavy" reading course. If you are in the latter category, I advise you to "read ahead." The first three books are short. Getting ahead of the schedule will give you more time for the longer books.

Anderson, Winesburgh, Ohio	Morrison, Beloved
Hemingway, In Our Time	Pynchon, The Crying of Lot 49
Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby	Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time
Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God	Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima
Faulkner, Go Down, Moses	Silko, Ceremony

Lecture/Discussion Topics, Assignments, Tentative Dates

Introduction to the Course 8/27

In Search of an [Anglo?] American Form for American Fiction

Readings: Winesburgh, Ohio 8/27, 29; [9/3]
In Our Time 9/3, 5
The Great Gatsby 9/10, [12]*, 17
* no class

First Examination 9/19

The Power of Blackness / Whiteness; Place and Time

Readings: Their Eyes Were Watching God 9/24, 26; [10/1]
Go Down, Moses 10/1, 3, 8
Beloved 10/10, 15, 17

Second Examination 10/22
Work on Paper Prospectus 10/24 [no class]
Prospectus Due 10/29

American Visions of Apocalypse, Utopia, and Dystopia

Readings: The Crying of Lot 49 10/29, 31
Woman on the Edge of Time 11/5, 7

Paper Due 11/12

Sickness Unto Healing: Form, Race, and Transformation

Readings: Bless Me, Ultima 11/12, 14, 19
Ceremony 11/21, 26; 12/3
[11/28-Thanksgiving]

Review for Final Exam 12/5
Final Exam 12/12, 11 a.m.

Examinations

All examinations will include two parts: short answer questions and identifications (taken from the readings and class lectures and discussions); and essay questions. During the class before each exam, I will distribute detailed study sheets. The essay part of the exam will be "open book." I encourage you to bring relevant outlines to the exam. Grading criteria for the essays relate to the focus and strength of your arguments, i.e., how well do you concentrate on the question posed and how well do you support your claims with specific and relevant examples. Although evidence of your "mechanical / editorial" writing abilities will be taken into account, they will be examined more closely in the paper than in the exams.

 

Research Paper

2000-3000 words; approximately 8-10 double-spaced pages; MLA format. (Purchase the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. ) Due: 11/12 by 5 p.m., either in my mailbox in 203 Carlisle or in my hand. Except for documented emergencies, I do not accept late papers.

The paper will offer you the opportunity to do intensive independent study about a relatively narrow topic of interest to you and will help you to develop your ability to analyze texts and to use bibliographic and critical studies. The paper is not intended to be a bibliographic essay; I expect you to develop and articulate an argument that will be clarified and supported with textual analyses and well-integrated allusions to relevant critical studies. The prospectus (due 10/29) must include the following sections: statements/ descriptions of (1) the claim/thesis including the scope of the paper; (2) the significance of the claim/thesis; (3) the critical approach(es)to interpretation; (4) the tentative organization; and (5) a highly selected critical source list. Library Support: Noel Anderson is the Librarian for the English Department (817-272-3000, ext. 4984; e-mail: anderson@library.uta.edu). You can find online databases for English among the Arts and Humanities databases at <http//www.uta.edu/library/mavinfo/arts.html> . Librarians at the second-floor reference desk can also be also extremely helpful. One of the most useful print resources is the annual publication American Literary Scholarship. See also the journals Modern Fiction Studies (MFS), The American Novel, Studies in American Fiction. There are also journals devoted to several of the authors (e.g., Anderson, Hemingway, Faulkner).

Grades, Etc. Etc.

Approximate Weights: First Exam (15%); Second Exam (25%); Final Exam (25%) Prospectus/Research Paper (35%). Warnings : (1) Plagiarism will be handled according to University disciplinary procedures. (2) If you plan to withdraw, you must follow University procedures. Professors cannot drop students; if they disappear without dropping, they receive F semester grades. (3) Under normal circumstances, I do not accept late work. (4) For every FIVE unexcused absences the semester grade will be lowered a half grade. I do not have a specific policy for lateness, but I do have an "attitude." Late arrivals disturb students and teacher. If there is a persistent problem with lateness, I will begin to count the tardiness as unexcused absences. Encouragement: (1) I am very willing to accommodate students with disabilities. These students should identify themselves at the beginning of the semester and provide me with authorized documentation from the appropriate University office. (2) Class participation (especially in the assigned group presentations) and improvement can be important factors in elevating the semester grade.

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