華梵大學國際化課程說明會
外國語文學系
課程名稱：
Nature in American Literature
課程介紹人：
陳院長 建平
邱有諒（卓越計畫1-1助理）
課程名稱：
Nature in American Literature
任課教授
Patricia Keith
上課週數
兩週
上課時數
十八小時
學分數
一學分
教 師 簡 歷 （I）
國籍：美國
年紀：58歲
學歷：Brandeis University. Waltham,
Massachusetts 英美文學博士
經歷：
 1983Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston,
Idaho; Professor
 1982-83 Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia,
Kentucky; Director of the Learning Center
and Chairman of the English Department
 1981-82 Western Kentucky University, Bowling
Green, Kentucky; Lecturer in the Extended
Campus Program
教 師 簡 歷 （II）
任教課程：
Nineteenth Century American Literature 、
Contemporary Literature 、
American Nature Writing 等
個人榮譽：
※
President’s Award for Outstanding Teaching; Lewis-Clark State
College
※
Departmental Award for Excellence in Teaching;
上
課
時
間
五月二十一日～六月一日
週一 08：00～12：00
週三 13：00～16：00
週五 08：00～10：00
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This one-credit, two-week course gives students a
brief survey of American literature that focuses on
nature. Students will read poems, short stories, and
short essays.
Nature has had a significant influence on American
history, culture, and values. Nature has inspired some
of the best prose and poetry ever written in the English
language. The language almost always paints vivid
pictures. Through the literature students will be
introduced to the wide diversity of the North American
continent—its mountains, rivers, deserts, swamps,
coastlines, prairies, and the plants, animals, and
people that call these places “home.”
COURSE GOALS
 become acquainted with how American writers have
represented nature
 understand the importance of nature to American
culture and values
 develop ability to read and interpret literary texts
 develop descriptive writing skills by writing about
nature
 develop analytical writing skills by writing about literary
texts
 develop reading and speaking skills by rehearsed
reading aloud
 develop extemporaneous speaking skills by
participating in discussion
 develop listening skills during lecture and discussions
COURSE DESIGN
Week #1:
We will read several Native American
Stories and several short literary works about
nature by 18th and 19th century writers.
Week #2:
short literary works about nature by 20th
century and contemporary writers exploring
Thoreau’s idea that nature is a “tonic,” a place
for people to heal themselves in various ways
TENTATIVE READING LIST
Week #1
 Black Elk, “Big Horn Medicine Wheel”
 Mourning Dove, a coyote story
 Henry David Thoreau, selection from Walden
 Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), selection from Life on the
Mississippi
 Sarah Orne Jewett, “The White Heron” (short story)
 John Muir, essay
Week #2
 Robert Frost, poems
 Sigurd Olson, “Northern Lights”
 Gary Snyder, poems and essays
 Wendell Berry, poems and essays
 N. Scott Momaday, selection from The Way to Rainy Mountatin
 Annie Dillard, selection from Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
 Mary Oliver, poems
Requirements
Students should:
1. choose a very short poem to read to the class
2. meet with the professor to practice reading
the poem and to discuss what the poem
means to them Before the reading
3. write short, 100-word responses to the
readings and then use these written
responses during class discussions.
4. spend a short period of time each day
experiencing nature.