EL5023 - American Literature

[Offered in odd-numbered years]

Credit points:	03
Year:	2007
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	Discipline of English

A study of American writing from the 'American Renaissance' of 1850 to the present day, concentrating in the nineteenth century on the construction of key American images (the Scarlet Letter, the Great White Whale, Huck Finn and his raft) and in the twentieth on their reinterpretation and revaluation, and the challenges posed by other American identities.

Learning Outcomes

• to acquire the ability to read the set texts in their cultural and historical contexts;
• to attain detailed knowledge of each of the set texts, their structures and narrative strategies;
• to broaden and intensify the literary-critical skills and understanding attained by students at earlier levels, particularly where essay-writing and extra-literary issues are concerned;
• to develop an understanding of how 20th century American writing engages with those myths;
• to develop an understanding of the importance of some landmark American texts of the 19th century to the development of national myths;
• to understand recent challenges to the authority of the American literary canon.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning processes and products;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner;
• A commitment to lifelong learning and intellectual development.

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:

EL3023 and EL2023

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 31-Aug-2007
Coord/Lect:	Dr Greg Manning.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 10 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); (40%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.