Major American Authors: Fall 2011

Syllabus—English 251-01 Dr. Ferguson Major American Authors: Fall 2011 Colonial to Romantic

Students will read and write about selected authors from Pre-Colonial, Colonial, and early Romantic periods whose literary contributions have helped develop and define modern thought in the United States of America. They will also be able to:

Explore the historical, multi-cultural, and philosophical roots of these literary texts, Identify theoretical approaches to the literature of this period, Develop an awareness of literary styles through close critical analysis, Further sharpen reading, writing, and thinking skills. .

Students are required to write two three-page course essays and take midterm and final exams. All assignments require close critical reading of and thinking about texts.

Required Text

The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Concise Edition. Paul Lauter, General Ed. Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

Tentative Course Schedule

Aug. 22 Introduction 24 "The Origin of Stories," pp. 14-16, 30-32; “Iroquois or Confederacy of the Five Nations," pp. 33-36; "Raven Makes a Girl Sick and Then Cures Her, (Tsimshian)," pp. 36-38; "The Bungling Host (Hitchiti)," pp. 38-39; “Creation of the Whites,” p. 40 26 Christopher Columbus: Journal of the First Voyage 1492-1493, pp. 48-57 29 Relation of Alva Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, pp. 57-69 31 "History of the Miraculous Apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531," pp. 72-80 Sept. 2 Don Antonio de Otermin: “Letter on the Pueblo Revolt of 1680,” pp. 86- 95; The Coming of the Spanish and the Pueblo Revolt (Hopi), pp. 95-99 5 LABOR DAY HOLIDAY 7 Samuel de Champlain: from The Voyages of Samuel de Champlain, 1604- 1618, pp. 100-107 9 The Jesuit Relations, pp. 107-108; The Relation of 1647- by Father Jerome Lalemant, pp. 109-116 12 Samuel Sewall: “The Selling of Joseph, A Memorial” pp. 243-255; FIRST DRAFT OF FIRST ESSAY DUE 14 CLASS DISCUSSION OF FIRST DRAFT; John Smith: The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles, pp. 126-132; A Description of New England, pp. 125-135 16 John Winthrop: A Modell of Christian Charity, pp. 147-157 2

19 Mary White Rowlandson: Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, pp. 206- 232; REVISION OF FIRST DRAFT DUE 21 CLASS DISCUSSION OF SECOND DRAFT; Rowlandson continued 23 John Woolman: Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes, pp. 349- 356 26 Anne Bradstreet: “The Flesh and Spirit,” pp. 191-193 28 Lucy Terry: “Bars Fight” (BLACKBOARD) ; FINAL REVISION OF FIRST ESSAY DUE 30 Phillis Wheatley: “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” p. 575 Oct. 3 Jonathan Edwards: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” pp. 328-33 5 Samson Occom: “A Short Narrative of My Life,” pp. 520-526 7 MIDTERM EXAM 10 FALL BREAK 12 Olaudah Equiano: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Written by Himself, pp. 526-554 14 Handsome Lake: “How America Was Discovered,” pp. 363-365 17 Thomas Jefferson: from Autobiography, "A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States," etc. pp. 478-497 19 Thomas Jefferson continued 21 J. Hector St John de Crèvecoeur: “What Is an American” and “Letter IX: Description of Charles Town; Thoughts on Slavery. . . .,” pp. 441-453 24 Benjamin Franklin: “The Way to Wealth,” pp. “Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America,” “A Witch Trial at Mount Holly,” “On the Slave- Trade,” pp. 365-380 26 Franklin continued 28 Ralph Waldo Emerson: “The American Scholar,” pp. 694-706 31 Sarah Margaret Fuller: “Woman in the Nineteenth-Century,” pp.726-749 Nov. 2 Henry David Thoreau: “Resistance to Civil Government,” pp. 749-765 4 Abraham Lincoln: "Address at the Dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery," pp. 834-837, "Second Inaugural Address," 836-837 7 Fannie Fern (Sara Willis Parton): "Hints to Young Wives," pp. 837-839 9 Frederick Douglass: Narrative of the Life of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American, Slave, pp. 866-931; FIRST DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY DUE 11 CLASS DISCUSSION OF SECOND DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY; Douglass continued 14 Edgar Allen Poe: “The Purloined Letter,” pp. 1014-1027 16 Harriet Ann Jacobs: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, pp. 841-860 18 Nathaniel Hawthorne: “Young Goodman Brown,” pp. 968- 976; SECOND DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY DUE 21 CLASS DISCUSSION OF SECOND DRAFT OF SECOND ESSAY; Herman Melville: “Benito Cereno,” pp. 1084-1141 23 THANKSGIVING BREAK 28 Walt Whitman: Song of Myself, pp. 1225-1279; FINAL REVISION OF SECOND ESSAY DUE 30 Whitman continued Dec 3 Emily Dickinson: Poems, pp. 1295-1317 5 Dickinson continued 12 FINAL EXAM, 8 AM-11 AM 3

Course Evaluation

The course grade is determined by two three-page essays that count for 20% each or 40%, a midterm exam that counts for 25%, and a final exam that counts for 35%. Students will prepare a first draft and two revisions of each essay. All essays receiving less than “C” must be revised, with the final grade being the highest of all drafts. Both essay topics are assigned, but suggestions for original topics are welcomed. All papers must focus on, organize, and fully analyze a specific idea clearly, coherently, and imaginatively, and not simply describe it. PAPERS NOT TURNED IN ON TIME WILL BE DROPPED ONE WHOLE LETTER GRADE. Make-up exams are rare, except for medical emergency for which the student provides acceptable and timely documentation. Grades are based on the following UNCG scale: A= 4.0; A-= 3.7; B+= 3.3; B= 3.0; B- = 2.7; C+= 2.3; C= 2.0; C-= 1.7; D+= 1.3; D= 1.0; D-=.7; F= 0; WF= 0.

Attendance

Students who miss more than three classes will have their final grade dropped a whole letter grade. This course requirement will be strictly enforced. Because tardiness disturbs class discussion, the classroom door will be closed promptly at 9 AM. Except for emergencies, please do not open it after this time.

Office

3117 Moore HRA Bldg Office Hours: M: 11 AM or by appointment Office Phone: 336-334-5484 Email: [email protected]