American Literature 1860-1920: Realism and Naturalism
Terry Oggel
Spring 2015
Course Outline
(subject to revisions, as necessary)
Jan 12 Introduction to course: readings, requirements; Overview: American Literature, 1860-1920
14 conclude Overview; Howells, “Editha,” online
16 conclude “Editha”
19 no class—MLK, Jr. Day
21 begin Alger, Ragged Dick; student presentation
23 continue Ragged Dick
26 conclude Ragged Dick; begin Twain, Pudd’nhead Wilson; student presentation
28 continue Pudd’nhead Wilson
30 continue Pudd’nhead Wilson
Feb 02 conclude Pudd’nhead Wilson
04 Twain, “Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses,” online; begin Howells, The Rise of Silas Lapham
06 continue The Rise of Silas Lapham; student presentation
09 continue The Rise of Silas Lapham
11 continue The Rise of Silas Lapham
13 conclude The Rise of Silas Lapham; begin Howells, Criticism and Fiction, online: Introduction and Chs. I,
II, IV, XI, XXI, XXIV
16 conclude Criticism and Fiction; begin James, “The Real Thing,” online
18 continue “The Real Thing”
20 conclude “The Real Thing”; The Custom House, The Scarlet Letter (1850) online; signup for student
conferences*
23 begin James, Portrait of a Lady; student presentation
25 continue Portrait of a Lady; student conferences*
27 continue Portrait of a Lady; student conferences*
Mar 02 continue Portrait of a Lady; student conferences*
04 conclude Portrait of a Lady; review; student conferences*
06 midterm exam; student conferences*
9-13
Spring Break
16 begin James, “The Art of Fiction”; student conferences*
18 conclude “The Art of Fiction”; student conferences*
20 begin Chesnutt, The House Behind the Cedars; student presentation
Friday, March 20—Last Day to Withdraw from Spring Semester Classes
23 continue The House Behind the Cedars
25 continue The House Behind the Cedars
27 conclude The House Behind the Cedars
30 begin Crane, The Red Badge of Courage; student presentation
Apr 01 continue The Red Badge of Courage
03 continue The Red Badge of Courage
06 conclude The Red Badge of Courage
08 begin Crane, “The Open Boat”
10 conclude “The Open Boat”; begin Crane, “The Veteran”
13 conclude “The Veteran”; begin Crane, The Blue Hotel”
15 conclude “The Blue Hotel”
17 begin Chopin, The Awakening; student presentation
20 continue The Awakening
22 continue The Awakening
24 conclude The Awakening
27 review and catch up; papers due
29 Reading Day
May 01 1-3:50 pm Final Exam
*student conferences: meet with groups of about 2-5 students to discuss paper topics
2