Twentieth Century Literature After 1945

Curriculum guideline

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Course
ENGL 3149
Discontinued
No
Course code
ENGL 3149
Descriptive
Twentieth Century Literature After 1945
Department
English
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
25
Contact hours
4 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

Some or all of the following methods will be used:

  1. lecture/discussion;
  2. group work;
  3. peer review;
  4. independent research;
  5. instructor feedback on students’ work;
  6. individual consultation; and
  7. presentation (individual or group)
Course description
Focusing on the twentieth century after 1945, this course surveys a selection of texts in any genre(s), chosen to highlight an organizing theoretical, historical, or thematic focus. Secondary readings will cover a variety of critical perspectives on literature and culture relevant to the chosen focus.
Course content

All third-year English courses share the following features:

  1. Students are presumed to have had first-year level instruction and experience in writing critical essays on literary subjects.
  2. Students are required to read in the course subject area beyond the texts assigned by the instructor.
  3. Students are required to incorporate into their oral and written coursework secondary source materials which may include biographical information, literary criticism or theory, unassigned texts by the author under study, relevant cultural or intellectual history, or other aesthetic works such as music or visual art.

Readings and topics vary with each instructor’s presentation of a course, but all course materials are consistent with the objectives and outcomes for this course.

Additionally, in English 3149 

  1. students will read a selection of mid to late twentieth century texts, as well as theoretical/critical material relevant to the particular theme or focus;
  2. areas of concentration and course content will vary with the instructor; these may include changes in poetic/narrative techniques and style after 1945, or the development and revision of literary themes during a particular period;
  3. the texts chosen will be predominantly literary, but may include other artistic genres such as film, music, and visual art;
  4. the texts chosen may have been produced originally in English or studied in translation.
Learning outcomes

Upon completion of any third-year English literature course, students should be able to

  1. read and analyze literary texts with increased skill and insight;
  2. integrate their understanding of literature into an evolving awareness of relevant cultural and historical contexts and perspectives;
  3. perceive connections among literary texts across genres, historical periods, and/or cultural contexts;
  4. conduct independent research to supplement the course material and effectively integrate this information into course assignments; and
  5. write different kinds of literary analyses, such as thematic, technical, or theoretical.

Upon completion of English 3149, students should also have

  1. developed an appreciation of the historical and aesthetic development of Anglo-American/Continental literature and culture during the twentieth century after 1945;
  2. become familiar with a variety of theoretical perspectives, such as post-modernism, post-structuralism, feminism, Marxism or cultural studies, which are vital to the period; and
  3. developed an understanding of the unique cultural, political, and historical conditions out of which the literature arises, and to which it responds.
Means of assessment
  1. A minimum of two academic essays and a final exam worth at least 80% of the course grade (combined total).
  2. A maximum of 20% of the course grade may be based on informal writing (quizzes, short answer tests); oral reports/presentations; participation/preparation grades; and/or other non writing-intensive assignments.

 

Textbook materials

Texts will vary with authors and genres selected by the instructor, and may include shorter readings compiled in custom course packs.  Instructors may create their syllabi from a relevant anthology and two to four novels from the period.

The following lists represent two possible versions of this course:

Popular Novels Since 1945

  • Christie, Agatha. Murder on the Orient Express
  • Fleming, Ian. From Russia, with Love
  • Hornby, Nick. High Fidelity
  • King, Stephen. Carrie
  • O'Brian, Patrick. Master and Commander
  • Susann, Jacqueline. Valley of the Dolls
  • Walker, Alice. The Color Purple
  • Welsh, Irvine. Trainspotting

American Literature Since 1945

  • DeLillo, Don. Falling Man
  • Didion, Joan. Play It as It Lays
  • Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man
  • Kerouac, Jack. On the Road
  • Kingston, Maxine Hong. The Woman Warrior
  • Kushner, Tony. Angels in America
  • Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman
  • Morrison, Toni. Beloved
  • Pynchon, Thomas. The Crying of Lot 49
  • Silko, Leslie Marmon. Storyteller
Prerequisites

Any two university-transfer first-year English literature courses, or one university-transfer first-year English literature course and one university-transfer first-year Creative Writing or English writing course, and a minimum of 45 credit hours.