Prof. Michael Borgstrom Fall 2005
mborgstr -at- mail.sdsu.edu English 522
Phone: 4-6284 TTh 12:30-1:45 (SS 2650)
Office: AH 4177
Office hours: TTh 11:15-12:15
Redrawing the Boundaries: Literature of the U.S., 1800-1860
This course will survey some of the key texts of the era commonly identified as the American Renaissance, a period that extends roughly from 1820-1865. The term "American Renaissance" designates a moment in America's literary history in which the texts considered to be the nation's "classics" first appeared. Until fairly recently, however, study of this period excluded a body of literature that is indispensable to a complex understanding of the era – a group of texts now frequently referred to as "the other American Renaissance." Consequently, this course will focus on the work of both classic and newly-classic authors of the period. We will pay particular attention to the underlying political tensions between the desire to affirm a democratic self and the social realities of slavery and gender inequity. In so doing, we will explore larger issues of national and cultural identity and their relationship to personal identity.
Texts
The Heath Anthology of American Literature, 5th ed., vol. B
Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables
Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Wilson, Our Nig
Course Format
While I will often lecture on our readings, all members of the class are encouraged (and expected) to participate in class discussion by asking questions and contributing observations.
Course Requirements
Along with a final exam, a midterm, two analytical essays, and regular written responses to the readings, this course requires regular attendance and participation in class discussion.
Participation 10% (includes attendance and occasional quizzes)
Reading Responses 15%
Two essays 20% (essay #1); 25% (essay #2)
Midterm 15%
Final 15%
Essays:
You will write two formal essays that develop and support a solid argument about our readings, each approximately 5-7 pages. I will pass out possible topics to consider for the first paper. Topics for the second paper will be chosen by you in consultation with me.
Attendance and participation:
Regular attendance goes without saying in any class. Given the wide range of historical materials for this course, however, readings may be difficult to understand without the background and discussion available in class. Therefore, I expect you to attend every class and to be on time. Moreover, you cannot fulfill the requirements of the course unless you participate in discussion regularly. You may not make up any in-class work you miss, but you will be responsible for all assignments given (and all material covered) in your absence. Please do all assigned readings before you come to class.
Reading Responses:
At several points during the semester, I will ask you to prepare short (1-2 pp.) written responses to questions about our readings. These will serve as one basis for our class discussions. I'll announce these assignments in class and will let you know what day I expect your responses for each assignment. It will be your responsibility to check Blackboard for these questions and to then prepare your written responses for class.
Midterm and Final:
These exams will likely include identifications, short answer questions, and/or an essay question. For the midterm, you will be responsible for all material covered up to that point. For the final exam, anything goes.
Other Information
Late work:
Reading responses are due in class, and I will not accept late submissions. If you are absent from class when a reading response is due, send it with a classmate or see me to arrange turning it in early. Your grade for a late submission of one of the two formal essays will be lowered by one-third (e.g., from B- to C+) for each class period in which you fail to turn it in.
Format for written work:
All assigned work completed out of class must be typed (double-spaced), including reading responses. All typed work must have an appropriate font size (a 12 point font is typical). Leave a margin of approximately 1" at the top, bottom, and sides of each page. Please staple all papers.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a violation of university policy and can result in failure of the assignment and/or failure of the course. If you have questions about how to use and document sources, please see me.
Cell phones:
If you bring cell phones to class, I require that they be turned off.
Finally:
I encourage you to come and see me if you have questions or wish to talk further about any aspect of the class. I look forward to working with all of you.
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
Unit 1: Transcendentalism and the Rise of the Romance
Th 9/1: Introduction
T 9/6: Emerson, "Nature" (1582-1584); "The American Scholar" (1609-1621)
Th 9/8: Emerson, "Self-Reliance" (1621-1638)
T 9/13: Thoreau, "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For" (from Walden) (1753-1762)
Th 9/15: Thoreau, "Resistance to Civil Government" (1738-1752)
T 9/20: Fuller, from Woman in the Nineteenth Century (1697-1719)
Th 9/22: Poe, "The Philosophy of Composition" (2521-2529); "The Raven" (2539-
2542); "The Fall of the House of Usher (2472-2485)
T 9/27: Hawthorne, "The Birth-Mark" (2276-2287); Preface to The House
of the Seven Gables (2444-2445)
Th 9/29: Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables (Chp. I-V)
T 10/4: Hawthorne, House (Chp. VI-XVI)
Th 10/6: Hawthorne, House (Chp. XVII-end)
Unit 2: Slavery in the Antebellum Nation
T 10/11: ESSAY #1 DUE
Douglass, Narrative of the Life (1882-1911)
Th 10/13: Douglass, Narrative (1911-1945)
T 10/18: Brown, from Clotelle (2612-2621)
Th 10/20: MIDTERM EXAM
T 10/25: Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Preface-Chp.XVII )
Th 10/27: Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Chp. XVIII-end)
T 11/1: Stowe, from Uncle Tom's Cabin (2549-2576)
Th 11/3: Stowe, from Uncle Tom's Cabin (2576-2588)
T 11/8: Wilson, Our Nig (Preface-Chp. VII)
Th 11/10: Wilson, Our Nig (Chp. VIII-end)
Unit 3: Literary Innovation and Social Critique
T 11/15: Melville, "Benito Cereno" (2669-2726)
Th 11/17: Melville, "Benito Cereno"
T 11/22: Copway, from The Life of Kah-ge-ga-gah-bowh (1477-1490)
Th 11/24: No class
T 11/29: Dickinson, TBA
Th 12/1: Whitman, TBA
T 12/6: ESSAY #2 DUE
Davis, "Life in the Iron-Mills" (2838-2863)
Th 12/8: Davis, "Life in the Iron-Mills"
T 12/13: Course wrap-up; final exam review
Th 12/15 FINAL EXAM (1:00-3:00)