English 379R: Epics of the West

Don Graham Areas: V/U Unique #:35620 Two Flags over Texas: Writing, Independent Inquiry Semester: Fall 2016 Restrictions: n/a Crosslists: n/a Computer Instruction: None

Description: Epics are traditionally narrative poems or prose fiction that tell of the founding of a nation or a civilization. The nation or civilization in this case is the U.S. Epics embody the cultural ideals of a specific place and set of beliefs and can range from Homer to Milton to Whitman. In this class we will read four novels that explore the history of the U.S. in complex ways: Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men (1930s South), Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West (mid-nineteenth century Southwest), Don DeLillo’s Libra (mid-twentieth century U.S.), and Philipp Meyer’s The Son (1849-2012 Texas).

Requirements: Pop quizzes on each of the four novels. No make-ups. Two or three short (1 page) explicative papers plus a longer, fully researched paper (12 pages) based on subjects arising from the texts. The longer papers will seek to explain the relationship between history and fiction through a study of sources and their reflection or reconfiguration in one of the four novels. There will also be an ungraded paper—something that the Flags designation requires.

Grading: Pop quizzes average: 20 percent. Explications: 30 percent. Long paper: -50 percent. Attendance: very important. Numerous absences will result in a reduction in the final grade. You are expected to read every word of every novel.

Prerequisites: Nine semester hours of course work in English or rhetoric and writing. Documented Disability Statement: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259 (voice) or 232-2937 (video phone), or visit http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd.

January 17 T Intro. 19 Th Discussion of Epic, narrative voice, etc.

24 T Robert Penn Warren, All the King’s Men 26 Th Reading Day All the King’s Men

31 T All the King’s Men February 2 Th All the King’s Men

2

7 T All the King’s Men 9 Th All the King’s Men One page explication due

14 T Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian 16 Th Blood Meridian

21 T Blood Meridian 23 Th Blood Meridian

28 T Blood Meridian March 2 Th Blood Meridian

7 T Blood Meridian 9 Th Blood Meridian

14 T SPRING BREAK 16 Th SPRING BREAK

21 T Don DeLillo, Libra 23 Th Libra

28 T Libra 30 Th Libra April 4 T Libra 6 Th Libra One page explication due

11 T Philipp Meyer, The Son 13 Th The Son

18 T The Son 20 Th The Son

25 T The Son 27 Th The Son May 2 T Format of long paper, etc. 4 Th Last class day. Due date of Long Paper to be announced. (It will be in the Final Exam period.)