English 333-01 Southern Writers
Spring 2003
Michael Parker (Mister, not Doctor)
201 McIver Bldg. 334-4496 mfparker@uncg.edu
In this course we will consider, in depth and ad infinitum, the "Southernness" of southern writing by focusing on the literary tradition of the American South in relation to historical, cultural and social developments which have shaped it. We’ll talk a good deal as well about the technical and thematic elements that separate Southern writing from otherwise American literature.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
--Attendance and participation in class discussion
--One 5-7 page paper due March 31st.
--Midterm and final examinations.
--Quizzes if necessary to keep us on track with the reading.
Since this class meets twice a week, you are allowed two unexcused absences, which of course is a full week of class. Each additional unexcused absence will affect your end-of-semester grade. I do make occasional allowances for medical or familial emergencies when documentation is provided. Please come to class on time, as arriving late is disruptive to everyone, and frequent tardiness will also affect your final grade.
I will provide you with some suggestions for paper topics, but I encourage you to come up with your own ideas. In case of the latter, I ask that you clear your topic with me in advance. In the event that you do not turn your paper in on time, your grade will be lowered one letter grade for each day it is late. We'll both want to avoid this situation. I would like for your papers to be double-spaced, legibly typed, carefully proofread; you should number your pages and title your analysis. We will talk further about format when the time comes.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this course, students will:
-- be familiar with the problems of definition relating to Southern and indeed, all regional writing.
--be able to identify some technical and thematic aspects of Southern writing.
--be familiar with the social, historical and cultural influences on literature of the American South;
--be knowledgeable about the literary history of the South and familiar with current developments in Southern poetry and fiction.
REQUIRED BOOKS (Available at UNCG Bookstore, Addam’s.)
--Stories of the Old South (SOS) Edited by Forkner, Samway
--Stories of the Modern South (SMS) Edited by Forkner, Samway
--Outer Dark, Cormac McCarthy
--Oral History, Lee Smith
--Wolf Whistle, Lewis Nordan
--As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner
JANUARY
13 Class Introduction; Problems in Definition; Literature of
the Colonial and Antebellum
15 Introduction, Cont’d. Southwestern Humorists/
Local Colorists.
20 Martin Luther King Holiday, No Class
22 Southwestern Humorists/Local Colorists Cont’d.
27 Faulkner and the Southern Renaissance.
29 As I Lay Dying.
FEBRUARY
O3 As I Lay Dying
05 African-American Southern Writers: Reading: Chestnutt, "The Web of Circumstance," Hurston, "the Gilded Six Bits" SOS
10 African-American Southern Writers.
12 African-American Southern Writers.
17 The Fugitives, The
Agrarians.
19 Fugitives, Agrarians, cont’d. Ransom, "Bells for John Whiteside’s
Daughter," Warren, "Old Time Childhood in
24 Eudora Welty.
26 Flannery O’Connor.
MARCH
O3 Peter Taylor.
05 MIDTERM EXAMINATION
10, 12 SPRING BREAK
17 Cormac McCarthy, Outer Dark.
19 Outer Dark
24 Outer Dark; Lee Smith, Oral History
26 Oral History
31 Oral History; Contemporary
Southern Poetry.
APRIL
02 Contemporary Southern Poetry. Reading: Handouts, TBA
07 Contemporary Southern Fiction Writers.
09 Southern Autobiographers and Essayists.
14 Southern Autobiographers and Essayists.
16 Catch-up Day.
21 Lewis Nordan, Wolf Whistle.
23 Wolf Whistle
28 Wolf Whistle
30 Catch-up, Cleanup, Windup, Ketchup
MAY
05 Last Gasp