American Literature II: 1870 to Present

This course examines American literature from the mid-1800s to the present, including poetry, fiction, essays, and autobiography. Students explore literary movements, major authors, and trends of the various time periods. Topics include American regional writing; American Realism; literature during and between the two world wars; the literatures of American minorities; and the contemporary literature of disillusionment. Students explore texts both as literary works and as products of historical forces.