English 149-2 - Spring, 2015

Topics in Literature

Topic: Altered Worlds, Modern and Contemporary

Class Information

Instructor: Glazner, Greg
CRN: 32538
Time: TR 1:40-3:00
Location: 217 Olson

Description

The course covers several works of modern and contemporary literature that depart from what might ordinarily be called “realistic,” presenting “altered worlds” instead. Ghosts, extreme physical transformations, meaningful weather, fables, visionary experiences, and dystopian societies, drugs, and warfare will lead us into the main concerns of the works. Social and political critique, psychological portraiture, and expanded notions of “the real” will be key to our discussions.

Grading

A mid-term paper 35%
A final exam paper 40%
Daily quizzes, a small number of daily assignments, and participation 25%

Texts

The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge (online), Rainer Maria Rilke
"The Hunger Artist" and "The Metamorphosis" (online) , Franz Kafka
Ceremony, Leslie Marmon Silko
Beloved, Toni Morrison
The Angel Esmeralda, Don DeLillo
On Such a Full Sea, Chang-Rae Lee
Tenth of December, George Saunders
Selected stores (online), Aimee Bender, Denis Johnson, Ursula Le Guin