Wainwright (Manatee CC)

Abstract

To recognize the richness and diversity of early American literature by studying texts that emerge from and illustrate that diversity; to rethink traditional ideas about what is of value in literature, as well as about intellectual frameworks for studying it; to examine the cultural implications of gender, race, and class for our understanding and appreciation of literature; to study the diverse and changing cultures of America; to understand how a text engages concerns central to the period in which it was written as well as to the overall developments of American culture; to connect literature and its study with the society and culture of which it is fundamentally a part. This semester we will cover the following literature: Native American literature, the literature of discovery and exploration, the literature of European settlement, Puritan poetry, the slave narrative genre, abolitionist and suffrage literature, Transcendentalism--the yea-sayers and the nay- sayers.

Texts

The Heath Anthology of American Literature, v. 1, Paul Lauter ed., et. al.

READINGS

Week # 1

Introduction In-Class writing Anne Bradstreet )

Week #2

Literature of Discovery and Encounter Discussion of the American dream

"The Coming of the Spanish," 52; "Iroquois or Confederacy of Five Nations," 56; de Vaca, Chpt. VII, 89; de Villagra, Canto 31, 128; Champlain, "An Encounter with the Iroquois," 132.

Week # 3

Literature of Discovery and Settlement

Columbus, pp. 70-75 (end with Fri. Nov. 2d); Smith, "From A Description," 156; "Advertisements," 160.

Week # 4

English Settlements in New England

Winthrop , "Modell of Christian Charity," 191; Bradford, Book I, Chpts. I, III, IV, VII, IX; Book II, Chpt. XI, 212-219; Bradford , Bk II, Chpt. XIX. 221; Morton, VII, XIV, XV, XVI, 182- 189

Week # 5

The Puritans/Woolman

From Winthrop's Journal, 204; Mather , Chpt. V, 403; Roger Williams, Introduction, 232; Woolman , "Some Considerations," 604; Puritan Poetry: Bradstreet , Wigglesworth , and Taylor.

Week # 6

African American Voices

Phillis Wheatley, poems, 712; Jupiter Hammon , "An Address," 682; Samson Occom , "Narrative," 730.

Week # 7

Revolutionary Expression

Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams 3/31/1776, 930; Letter from John to Abigail, 4/14/1776, 930; Letter from John to James Sullivan (5/26/1776) 931; Paine , "An Occasional Letter," 937.

Week # 8

Native American/Slavery

Chief Seattle, Speech, 1770; David Walker, "Appeal," 1781; Sarah Grimké, "Letters," 1886-1892.

Week # 9

Sojourner Truth/Irving

Truth , 1911-1914; Irving , "Rip Van Winkle," 1248

Week # 10

Transcendentalism

Thoreau, from Walden, 1981-2015; Transcendentalism; Emerson , "The American Scholar," 1499.

Week # 11

Fuller/Douglass

Fuller , from Woman in the Nineteenth Century, 1604; Douglass , Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, 1637-1722

Week # 12

Jacobs/Melville

Jacobs , Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, 1723-1749; Melville ,"Bartleby: The Scrivener," 2405

Week # 13

Melville/Hawthorne

Melville ; Hawthorne , "Rappaccini's Daughter."

Week # 14

Hawthorne/Dickinson

Hawthorne , "The Birth Mark," 2101; Introduction to Emily Dickinson.

Week # 15

Dickinson

Emily Dickinson , poems.

Week # 16

Whitman

Walt Whitman , poems.

SHORT PAPER WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Writing: Short Paper Assignment #l

In what ways does the literature assigned for week 2 reflect a conflict of interests between the Native Americans and the Spanish/French explorers? Support your answer by using specific quotations and examples from the primary texts (500 words).

Writing: Short Paper Assignment #2

Compare and contrast the differences among Smith's, Columbus's, Bradford's and Winthrop's purposes for coming to America.

Writing: Short Paper Assignment #3

Using Bradford and Winthrop as representatives of the Puritan code, discuss how a consideration of the Puritan treatment of Anne Hutchinson, Roger Williams, African-Americans and Martha Carrier causes us to doubt the ideology (the myth) of America's religious and political "toleration" and "freedom."

Writing: Short Paper Assignment #4

Compare and contrast the purposes of Puritan poetry and African- and Native-American writings by referring to specific passages from primary texts assigned weeks 5 and 6.

Writing: Short Paper Assignment #5

Using the texts assigned for Weeks 7, 8, and 9, discuss how the factors of gender and race affect the American dream myth.

Writing: Short Paper Assignment #6

Compare and contrast the discourse of freedom as depicted by Douglass and Jacobs . What constitutes freedom for each?

Writing: Short Paper Assignment #7

Compare and contrast Emerson's and Fuller' s ideals of Transcendentalism passages from the primary texts assigned weeks 5 & 6.