Ann Putnam

English 239                                                                                        

Office Hours: 10-11:00 MWF and by appt.

Phone: x3407 or x3235

e-mail: aputnam@ups.edu

Loss and Renewal: American Voices, American Identity

Texts: The Norton Anthology of American Litearture, Shorter Fourth Edition, 6^th ed. Baym

            The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

            Beloved, Toni Morrison       

            Black Water, Joyce Carol Oates

            The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien

            Ceremony Leslie Marmon Silko     

 

This course takes as its starting point the question, "What is our American identity?" By reading texts from a variety of genres, and cultural perspectives, we will explore the themes of community, loss, and identity. In what ways can we view these most central of human experiences as distinctly American? This course will trace an emerging American identity as it is articulated by figures central to American culture over the course of three centuries.

 

The course is intended to be an exploration both thematic and textual into the intriguing and evolving invention and reinvention of a national identity. Does this definition, as seen through the voices of American writers remain the same or does this definition evolve and reflect the changing face of America? Can we recognize our present sense of ourselves in the past? Or is it so different as to be unrecognizable?

 

Who are we? As a people? As a cultural identity? Or identities? As you make your way carefully and thoughtfully through the readings of the course please respond to these questions: What does it mean to be an American? Does this bring pride? Shame? In what way is America still innocent? Of what? What characterizes our peculiar American innocence? Why is it often said we are still in our adolescence? What hard lessons have we learned in the past? What hard lessons have we yet to learn? At what cost has our knowledge come? Is there such a thing as the American Dream? What dreams have fueled the imagination at the start? What seemed to be possible? For whom? Who has achieved it? Who has been shut out? What groups of people live on the margins? Who is on the outside looking in? Since all growth truly comes only from sorrow and loss, in what ways have we grown? In what ways are we still naive?

 

The course looks at the central issue of identity from three perspectives. However I have chosen works that reflect issues raised in all three. That is, each work reflects the role of nature in forming our sense of who we are; the role of our political and cultural history; and our individual intellectual and imaginative awakenings. It meets the University's new Humanistic Core Requirements.

I. Identity as a nation: "A city on a hill≤

II. Identity as self: "The Awakening≤

III. Identity as nature: "The machine in the garden≤

Requirements:

1. Attendance is the first and most important requirement. Unexcused absences will seriously affect the grade. After three unexcused absences our grade will be lowerd by one half (i.e. a "B"would become a "B-)Since this will primarily be a discussion class there is absolutely no way for you to make up class sessions. Your abiding presence and willing and attentive participation is a duty and privilege we will all benefit from. It will be part of your final grade.

 

2.         Reading response Notebook

Three responses per week. One for each class session. Minimum of thirty for the course. From a paragraph to a page or so. Some readings will prompt more ideas than others and that's okay. These must be typed and kept in a manila folder or binder. They must be written before class and brought to class the day of discussion. You'll need to make these thoughtful responses that you can share with the class. Why do you think I assigned this reading? What troubled you about it? What connections to previous readings did it bring to mind? What differences? What questions did it raise? What is the reading most quintessentially about? What specific details in the work contribute to this sense? What image or phrase or line seems to capture the white-hot center of the work? Please refer to the accompanying handout on close readings.

Three times during the semester you will exchange notebooks with another class member, and write a one-page typed letter responding to their comments.

The reading response notebook will not only help you to prepare to participate in class discussions but will help you prepare for quizzes, exams and your papers. So take this part of the course very seriously.

3. Participation as an Informal discussion leader: With several others, you will be

responsible for leading the class discussion on an assigned day at least three times during the course of the semester.

4. Participation in three formal Panel Discussions. The Great Gatsby, Beloved, and The Things They Carried.

 

Poetry Presentation. In groups of three you will select and present for discussion a poem of your choice from the Norton Anthology. Your goal is to concisely and creatively explore the images/themes in the poem you have chosen. Audio/visual aids are welcome!

5.         3-4 page paper

6. Mid-term exam

6-10 page paper, due Wed of finals week, my office 10:00 a.m. For this assignment

 

I'd like you to center upon an American writer that you feel passionately about. You may choose the work or works of a writer we have covered in class; but my hope is that a number of you will choose a writer we have not read in classãa writer who has been marginalized in our culture for one reason or another. I'm also hoping some of you will work with the poets in the Anthology. I invite you to conference with me in choosing your topic. No matter what your approach, the key is to choose a writer/work that engages your interest intellectually aesthetically, personally.

Reading Response Log Notebook due at this time

Working Daily Schedule:

(subject to change, so be sure you are in class every day to stay current)

Introduction: Faces of the American Dream

Jan 21-23:

Wed: Introduction to the course.

Write an informal essay for Friday to be shared with the class (2 pages) in which you describe what you think is meant by the title of this course. Be very specific; refer to specific people and events and ideas. Please shatter the stereotypes. Please avoid at all costs the cliches.

 

Begin reading Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko right away. To be completed by February 2^nd. Bring to class a list of questions the book raises for you, as you think about and take notes on the reading questions in the handout. And as you read think about the role of nature, our past both historical and personal and the role of stories in telling us who we are. What happens to us when any of these are withheld? Also watch how Silko manipulates time, weaving past and present into a luminous ever-present.

 

Fri. John Winthrop, from "A Model of Christian Charity," (103-105 Norton, see footnote 1); "Winthrop's åCity Upon a Hill' in Recent Political Discourse,"Joseph McShane (handout); Miss Saigon

 

Discussion of 2 page essays

 

Jan 26-30

Mon: "Columbus, the Indians, and Human Progress"from A People's History of the United States (Zinn)From Letters, Christopher Columbus (pp 25-9); Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca, (30-36) in the Norton Anthology of American Literature

 

Discussion of 2 page essays

Wed: Benjamin Franklin,'s "Remarks Concerning the Savages of

North America"pp. 227-230

"The Iroqois Creation Story; "The Pima Creation Story, pp 19-24; "Spider Woman Creates the Human"(handout)

                                               

Fri: introduction to Ceremony

 

Feb 2-6

Mon, Wed, Fri Discussion of Ceremony

 

(by Feb 9, have read The Great Gatsby and the Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography, pp 285-292 in Norton)

Feb 9-13

 

Mon Introduction to The Great Gatsby

Panel Preparation

Wed Panels I & II

Reading Response Log Exchange

 

Fri Panels III & IV

Return Reading Log with Letter of Response

Choose a topic for your first 3-4 page paper, due Feb 27

 

Mon The Great Gatsby Panels V & VI

 

 

 

I. Identity as Nature: The Machine in the Garden

 

Feb 16-20

 

Wed William Bradford, from Of Plymouth Plantation pp 77-84 in Norton

            Thomas Jefferson, "Notes on the State of Virginia≤ pp.342-345in Norton;

J. Hector St. John De Crevecoeur, from Letter III, "What is an American, from Letters of an American Farmer, Letter III pp. : 299-310; James Fenimore Cooper, "The Slaughter of the Pigeons, pp 468-9. Begin reading Life in the Iron Mills,, Rebecca Harding Davis,

 

"The Wellfleet Whale"(handout)

 

Fri Henry David Thoreau, "Sounds"(pp. 905-915)

For Monday bring a rough draft of your paper.

 

Feb 23-26

 

Mon. in class workshop on paper development.

Wed & Fri "Life in the Iron Mills, Rebecca Harding Davis, pp 1189-1217; Fri, paper due

 

 

II. Identity as Self: The Awakening

3/5 Jonathan Edwards, "Personal Narrative"in Norton

            Henry David Thoreau, "Spring,"in Norton

                        Begin reading Beloved. Complete March 22

3/8 & 10 The Awakening

3/12 Reading Day on your own

3/22 Small group discussion of Beloved panel questions

            Discuss Crevecour Letter IX

3/24, 3/26. 3/29 Beloved Panels

         

3/31, 4/2, 4/5 Beloved: The Film

Mid-term take home exam due, 4/5

III. Identity as Nation: A City on a Hill

4/7, 4/9, 4/12 The Things They Carried panels

Reading Response Log Exchange

Sign up for Poetry Presentations: Poetry Presentations In groups of three you will select and present a poem of your choice from the Norton Anthology. You will have half the class period to read the poem and lead the class in a discussion. Details to follow.

4/14 Thomas Jefferson "A Declaration of Independence≤

                  Abraham Lincoln, "The Gettysburg Address≤

Walt Whitman, "Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night≤; "A Sight in the Daybreak Gray and Dim≤

           

4/16 Walt Whitman "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd≤

                        A Choral Reading

4/19, 4/21, 4/23Black Water Joyce Carol Oates

Reading Response Log Exchange

4/26, 4/28, 4/30 Poetry Presentations

5/1 & 5/3 Final Discussion/Exam on Poetry Selections

5/12 Final 6-10 page paper due my office, ten in the morning.

                                    Reading Log Due