Engl 470-01 Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Postcolonial Literature
Dr. Laura Wright
MWF
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office hours:
Spring 2009
11:15-12:05
416 Coulter Hall
x3927
lwright@email.wcu.edu
MW 1-3 and by appt.
Although there is considerable debate over the precise parameters of the field and the
definition of the term “postcolonial,” for the purposes of this course, consists of the study
of the interactions between European nations and the societies they colonized both during
the period of colonization as well as after independence. In this course we will read a
variety of postcolonial theoretical texts in conjunction with and as a way of
understanding primary literary texts written by postcolonial authors from India, Africa,
and Ireland. Our theoretical grounding will help us explore issues of power, race, and
gender with regard to colonial domination within the literary texts we will read. In this
course, we will work to develop an understanding of and appreciation for various
literatures being written in the historic colonies and dependencies of the European powers
as we examine how the colonial experience may have affected the type and content of
literature produced in these areas. We will explore the following questions:
How did the experience of colonization affect those who were colonized while also
influencing the colonizers? What were the forms of resistance against colonial control?
How did colonial education and language influence the culture and identity of the
colonized? How did Western science, technology, and medicine change existing
knowledge systems? What are the emergent forms of postcolonial identity after the
departure of the colonizers? To what extent has decolonization (a reconstruction free
from colonial influence) been possible? How do gender, race, and class function in
colonial and postcolonial discourse? Are new forms of imperialism replacing
colonization?
Required Texts:
Rental:
The Bedford Anthology of World Literature: The 20th Century to the Present (Volume 6)
For purchase:
J. M. Coetzee. Disgrace (South Africa)
Alan Duff. Once Were Warriors (New Zealand)
Brian Friel. Translations (Ireland)
Tsitsi Dangarembga. Nervous Conditions (Zimbabwe)
Arundhati Roy. The God of Small Things (India)
* If you do not have enough money to pay full price for these texts, there are other
options through which you can obtain them. Check half.com, bookfinder.com or
Amazon.com for used copies (often used copies can be purchased for a fraction of
the full-price). Failure to obtain these required texts will result in failure of the
course.
Grades will be based on a discourse deliberation assignment (25%), a research paper
(35%), a final exam (25%), and class participation (in the form of discussion, preparation
of introductory questions at least once during the semester, close reading assignments,
and one group presentation) and response assignments (15%). I will provide prompts for
the response assignments. These must be typed and should be approximately 1 page
long.
Presentations: Once during the semester, you will be required to introduce the author
and colonial/cultural context of one work, and the material covered in the work itself.
Your presentation should consist of some historical and biographical information about
the author and culture, and it should consist of a brief summary of the high points of the
reading. Finally, you will need to formulate three discussion questions to present to the
class in order to begin discussion on the day of your presentation. Handouts are welcome
and encouraged. Presentations should be approximately 15 – 20 minutes.
This is a discussion-based course; therefore, I will expect you to participate in class
discussions, to ask questions, and to offer answers to the questions of your classmates.
The number of quizzes that you will have will depend on how regularly I feel that this
class is reading and participating in discussion
Late papers/assignments:
Unless you discuss problems with me in advance (not five minutes before class), I will
not accept late assignments. However, if you talk to me and I agree to let you turn in a
late assignment, you will receive a letter grade deduction on the assignment.
Furthermore, you will only be allowed to turn in one late assignment (and only if I say
it’s OK to do so); any subsequent late work will not be accepted. You will not be able to
pass this class unless you complete all assignments.
I will not accept any assignment sent to me via e-mail. I love to communicate by use of
e-mail, but this medium is not an acceptable way to submit papers for this particular
course. If you are having trouble with an assignment, please speak to me as soon as
possible.
Attendance:
Because this is a discussion-based class, your attendance and participation are of vital
importance. Therefore, you are allowed three absences, the equivalent of one week’s
worth of class. Any absence after three will result in a 1/3-letter grade deduction from
your final grade, and eight absences will result in automatic failure for the course. If you
know that you will need to miss class for any reason, speak to me ASAP. You will still
be responsible for any work that you miss when you are absent.
Plagiarism: (from the student handbook)
Academic Honesty Policy. Western Carolina University, a community of scholarship, is
also a community of honor. Faculty, staff, administrators, and students work together to
achieve the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is a serious
offense at WCU because it threatens the quality of scholarship and defrauds those who
depend on knowledge and integrity. Academic dishonesty includes the following:
A. Cheating. Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information,
or study aids in any academic exercise.
B. Fabrication. Intentional falsification or invention of information or citation in an
academic exercise.
C. Plagiarism. Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of someone
else as one’s own in an academic exercise.
D. Facilitation of Academic Dishonesty. Intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting
to help someone else to commit an act of academic dishonesty, such as knowingly
allowing another to copy information during an examination or other academic exercise.

Engaging in any of the above activities will result in a final grade of F in the
course. Furthermore, as per WCU’s academic dishonesty policy, all cases of
academic dishonesty will be turned over to the department head who will
determine further action. A first offense may place a student in jeopardy of
suspension from WCU; a repeat offense may result in expulsion from the
university.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is
committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented
disabilities. Students who require disability services or reasonable accommodations must
identify themselves as having a disability and provide current diagnostic documentation
to Disability Services. All information is confidential. Please contact Disability Services
for more information at (828) 227-2716 or 144 Killian Annex.
Grading Scale:
A = 93-100%, A- = 90-92%, B+ = 87-89%, B = 83-86%, B- = 80-82%, C+ = 77-79%, C
= 73-76%, C- = 70-72%, D+ = 67-69%, D = 63-66%, D- = 60-62%, F = Below 60%
The following matters are non-negotiable:
1. Attending class without the book in which the reading is due or without having
done the reading will result in a zero for homework and participation for that
day’s class.
2. You will not be eligible to pass this class unless you complete all assignments.
3. Handwritten assignments at the college level are unacceptable. I will not accept
handwritten work from you under any circumstances.
4. Final drafts of essays will not be accepted unless I have seen and critiqued a
preliminary draft of the essay.
Week 1
Mon., Jan. 12: Introduction to course. Some terminology: language, culture, orality,
binary oppositions, colonization.
Wed., Jan. 14: Heart of Darkness (Bedford, 35-59)
Fri., Jan. 15: Introductions. Discuss reading.
Continue Heart of Darkness (59-78)
Week 2
Mon., Jan. 19: MLK Day: No Class
Wed., Jan. 21: Heart of Darkness (78-end)
Close reading exercise #1 due
* Note: close reading exercises will be due every Wednesday unless
otherwise specified on the syllabus.
Fri., Jan. 23 “An Image of Africa” (Bedford, 107-117)
Things Fall Apart (Bedford, 1023-1050)
Week 3
Mon., Jan. 26: Things Fall Apart (to the end of Part 1)
Excerpt from Efuru by Flora Nwapa (handout/webcat)
Wed., Jan. 28: Response assignment 1 due.
From The Wretched of the Earth (Bedford, 128-135)
Fri., Jan. 30: Discuss reading.
Nervous Conditions
Week 4
Mon., Feb.2: PRESENTATION 1: ZIMBABWE, DANGAREMBGA,
NERVOUS CONDITIONS
Discuss advertisements and assign Discourse Deliberation essay
NC
Wed., Feb. 4: Close reading exercise #2 due. Discuss reading.
NC
Fri., Feb. 6: Show Film clips from Blood Diamond and The Last King of Scotland
NC
Week 5
Mon., Feb. 9: Finish NC
Response assignment 2 due.
Wed., Feb. 11: Peer review draft 1 of essay 1.
Fri., Feb. 13: Disgrace
Week 6
Mon., Feb. 16: Discuss reading. Return drafts of essay 1. PRESENTATION 2: SOUTH
AFRICA, COETZEE, DISGRACE
Disgrace
Wed., Feb. 18:Close reading #3 due.
Disgrace
Fri., Feb. 20: Disgrace
Week 7
Mon., Feb. 23: Discuss reading. Final draft of essay 1 due at the beginning of class.
In class deliberation.
Wed., Feb. 25: Close reading #4 due.
Disgrace
Watch Long Night’s Journey into Day.
Fri., Feb. 27: Finish Disgrace
Continue discussion of TRC, Long Night’s Journey
Week 8
Mon., Mar. 2-Fri., Mar. 6: Spring Break – No Class
Week 9
Mon., Mar. 9: Response assignment 3 due.
Return and discuss essay 1.
Once Were Warriors
Wed., Mar. 11: Close reading #5 due.
Once Were Warriors
Discuss reading. PRESENTATION 3: NEW ZEALAND, DUFF,
ONCE WERE WARRIORS
Fri., Mar. 13: Once Were Warriors
Week 10
Mon., Mar. 16: Once Were Warriors
Wed., Mar. 18: Close reading #6 due. Watch clips from film Once Were Warriors
Finish Once Were Warriors
Fri., Mar. 20: Gandhi (Bedford, 1284-88)
Excerpt from Midnight’s Children (handout/webcat)
Week 11
Mon., Mar. 23: The God of Small Things
Wed., Mar. 25: Close reading #7. Discuss reading. PRESENTATION 4: INDIA,
ARUNDHATI ROY, GST
GST
Fri., Mar. 27: GST
Week 12
Mon., Mar. 30:Discuss reading. Assign essay 2.
GST
Wed., Apr. 1:Close reading #7 due. Discuss reading.
Finish GST.
Fri., Apr. 3: Response assignment 4 due.
Library research day.
Week 13
Mon., Apr. 6: William Butler Yeats (181)
Wed., Apr. 8-Fri., Apr. 10: Easter Holiday
Week 14
Mon., Apr. 13: Translations
Wed., Apr. 15: Close reading #8. PRESENTATION 5: IRELAND, BRIAN FRIEL,
TRANSLATIONS
Translations
Fri., Apr. 17: From How the Irish Became White (MyCat)
Response Assignment 5 due.
Week 15
Mon., Apr. 20: Film: The Loaded Weapon
Wed., Apr. 22: Draft 1 of essay 2 due.
Fri., Apr. 24: No regular class meeting – meet in individual conferences.
Week 16
Mon., Apr. 27: From Is Canada Postcolonial? (handout/webcat)
Wed., Apr. 29: PRESENTATION 6: CANADA, MARGARET ATWOOD
“Death by Landscape” (handout/webcat)
Fri., May 1: Essay due. Exam preparation.