English 3702 American Literature: 1870-1910
Section 001 CRN 90800
Allison
American Literature: 1870-1910 1400-1450 MWF
The literature of American Realism (1860-1900) bears witness to America's coming of age. The country was reeling from the trauma of war, transitioning from a farm-based economy to a new economy of urban industry, and seeking to manage tensions between people's conflicting needs for social stability and social change. Anticipating the conditions of our lives, the literature of American Realism is well worth reading. During the course we will discuss a range of works by such writers as Mark Twain, William Dean Howells, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Charles Chesnutt, Kate Chopin, Stephen Crane, Henry James, Theodore Dreiser, and Edith Wharton. The works will include a rich variety of approaches to Realism--common-place Realism, naturalistic Realism, impressionistic Realism, and psychological Realism. Formal requirements include five written responses (400-500 words each), a critical essay of 8-10 pages, and a final examination. (Group 3B)
