Context and Community in  Classic American Literature

Sam Houston State University Department of English

New England in the nineteenth century created a literary culture through the friendships of many individuals who stimulated each other, provided mentoring and practical advice for each other, and helped determine all subsequent American culture.   A greater understanding of the separate literary works can come by seeing and realizing the close connection between the writers and the history of New England.  Why did nineteenth century New England writers find the Puritan past so compelling a subject matter?  Why was the natural world such an important  theme in their writing?  How did their daily lives intertwine with each other?  How did their friendships and even family relationships help them reshape the image of literature in American culture and the image of American literature in world culture?

             Objectives:

Provide students a greater knowledge of nineteenth century American literature and how the friendships and professional relationships of the writers created the American Renaissance, as well as how the history and geography of New England influenced the writers.

Provide students a chance to do archival and collection research.

Facilitate critical thinking about the works as students will be required to develop how the context of the composition of the work matters to its interpretation.

Communicate insights about the works and the places to a wider audience through a blog.

Minimester 2010 ENG 499

May 18-June 1