INGL 3351 Survey of American Literature to 1860
INGL 3351: Survey of American Literature to 1860: Syllabus
Fall 2005, Section 070, Ch 318
Dr. Kathleen Ferracane Office: Ch 304, x3080
Office Hours: MWF 7:30-8:20, 12:55-1:45, and by appointment
Website: http://academic.uprm.edu/kkelley/
Course Description: Major works of the literature of the U.S. from the Colonial Period to the onset of the Civil War. 3 cr. Hours. Pre-requisites: INGL 3104, 3202 or 3212.
Text: Nina Baym, ed. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New York: W. W. Norton, 2003. Shorter Sixth Edition.
Objectives: By the end of the course students will be expected to:
possess full knowledge of the individual works assigned for reading
have sharpened their abilities for literary interpretation, response and evaluation, both as applied to a single work of literature, and to the more general question of themes and forms as related to American Literature
possess a broad sense of the historical and cultural forces behind the development of U.S. literature as reflected in its authors and major works.
Topics: The course will survey the major literary figures and movements of U.S. literature in the context of its history, up to the onset of the Civil War.
Methods: The course will consist primarily of discussion of, and lectures on, the various readings.
Evaluation: Two hour-long examinations will consist of a combination of short answer and brief essay questions (approximately 75 points for each exam). A final examination (125 points) will include two parts: work covered during the last third of the semester (75 pts.) and work covered earlier in the semester (50 pts.). Unannounced quizzes may be given throughout the semester. In addition the following writing assignments will be required; students may choose from Option I or Option II
Option I
A. Three one-page reaction papers (10 pts. each), one for each section of the course
B. One summary of a critical journal article on a work/author studied during the semester, with an explanation of how the article helped you understand the author/work better. (1 ½-2 pp, 20 pts.)
Option II
A. One one-page reaction paper (10 pts.)
B. One 5-6 page research paper using at least three scholarly sources, following MLA format (40 pts.)
The final grade will follow the standard curve.
Any plagiarized work will receive a grade of zero and may result in failure in the class.
Attendance and Participation: Class attendance is required and all students are invited to participate actively. Because of the amount of material covered and the need to master content, class attendance is an especially important component of learning in this course. It is the student's responsibility to make up any work missed in case of absence.
Exam and paper dates:
Reaction paper I (Options I & II): Wednesday, Sept. 14
Exam I (through Jefferson): Monday, Sept. 19
Reaction paper II (Option II): Wednesday, October 26
Exam II (through Poe): Monday, October 31
Summary of critical article (Option I) or Research Paper (Option II): Monday, November 28
Reaction paper III: Wednesday, November 30
Bonus points. Students will have the opportunity to receive up to 10 points for optional work throughout the semester.
American Literature to 1860: INGL 3351
Fall, 2005
Core Reading List Dr. Ferracane
Read the corresponding introductions to each period, author and work.
David Cusick. The Iroquois Creation Story 17-21
Winnebago From The Winnebago Trickster Cycle 65-70
Columbus. From Luis de Santángel 25-27
Cabeza de Vaca. From The Relation 30-36
John Smith. From The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles 44-53
William Bradford. From Of Plymouth Plantation Book I Ch IX 76-79, Book II Ch XI 84-89, Ch XIX 89-93, Ch XXIII 93-94
John Winthrop. From A Model of Christian Charity 95-98, 105-106 (“city upon a hill”); Overcoming Satan 106, Charges brought against Mrs. Hutchinson and Others 108-109
Anne Bradstreet. Contemplations 117-120, To My Dear and Loving Husband 125, In Memory of My Dear Grandchild 126, To My Dear Children 128-131
Mary Rowlandson. From A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration, 136-38 (through 1st Remove), 142-3 (12th Remove), 146-52 (starting with “But before I go . . . “)
Edward Taylor. Prologue 153, Meditation 8 154-55, Upon a Wasp Chilled with Cold 159
Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God 207-219
Benjamin Franklin. From The Way to Wealth 221-26, Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America 227-231, from The Autobiography 231-257, 281-92
J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur. From Letter from an American Farmer, Letter III, What Is an American 300-14
Thomas Paine. From Common Sense, 321-34
Thomas Jefferson. The Natural Aristocrat 346-49
[EXAM I]
Olaudah Equiano From The Interesting Narrative of the Life . . . 351-61
Phillis Wheatley. On Being Brought ...367, On the Death of the Rev. . . . 373
Philip Freneau. On the Emigration 362-64
Washington Irving. Rip Van Winkle 448-60
James Fenimore Cooper. From The Pioneers, The Slaughter of the Pigeons 462-69
William Cullen Bryant. Thanatopsis 470-72, To a Waterfowl 472-73, Prairies 473-75 Cherokee. The Cherokee Memorials 573-81
Ralph Waldo Emerson. Nature 486-514
Henry David Thoreau. From Walden, 1. Economy, 853-889
Nathaniel Hawthorne. Roger Malvin's Burial 597-610, The May-Pole of Merry Mount 619-626, Rappaccini's Daughter 647
Edgar Allan Poe. Sonnet-To Science 696, To Helen 697, The Fall of the House of Usher 714-27, The Purloined Letter 731-43, The Philosophy of Composition 748-56
[EXAM II]
Margaret Fuller. The Great Lawsuit 763-71
Fanny Fern. Male Criticism 808, Fresh Leaves 809-10, A Law More Nice 810-11
Harriet Jacobs. From Incidents in the Life . . . 813-34
Harriet Beecher Stowe. From Uncle Tom's Cabin 774-806
Frederick Douglass. From Narrative of the Life of… 942-61
Herman Melville. Benito Cereno 1111-1167
Walt Whitman. From Song of Myself 1 (1003), 6 (1007), 10 (1009), 11 (1010), 15 (1012), 52 (1046); Crossing Brooklyn Ferry 1061-65, Out of the Cradle. . . 1066-70, When I Heard . . . 1070-71, When Lilacs Last . . . 1074-80, A Noiseless, Patient Spider 1080-81
Emily Dickinson. Various selections, including 67 (1171), 185 (1172), 214 (1172), 216 (both versions, 1173), 258 (1174), 341 (1176), 449 (1179), 986 (1185), 1129 (1186)
American Puritanism
Origins of Puritanism
England, mid-16th c. (Church of England separated from Rome in 1530's)
Desire to purify Church of England (1st-century church as ideal)
Reduction/elimination of hierarchy (no bishops, cardinals, popes-council of elders)
Simplification/elimination of some ceremonies/rites, simplified vestments
Original prayers
More sermons
Plain style
Important Doctrines of Calvinism (important as basis for Puritan theology)
Man's fallen nature (man is by nature depraved, degenerate; only God, by his grace, can rescue man from this state)
Unconditional election by God (Only God saves, He saves only whom He wills; God is not compelled by an individual's faith or good works, although these may be signs that the individual has been saved-a doctrine called reasonable assurance. God, omniscient, already knows who will be saved)
Limited atonement (God died only for those who are saved)
Irresistible grace (God's grace cannot be denied-or earned)
Perseverance of the saints (those who have been saved will not backslide; they will continue to lead a holy life)
Important Characteristics of New England Puritanism
Importance of reasons, logic (both the Bible and the world can, with care, be interpreted rationally)
Covenant Theology (God freely offers the possibility of an agreement to those who obey his will, to save them)
Early government a theocracy (the elect, church members, participated in the government, as an extension of God's will)
Sense of carrying out God's mission (Winthrop's “city on a hill,” New England as the new Israel-God's elect)
