Topics in 19th Century American Authors: The Comic Tradition in 19th-Century American Literature
Gregg Camfield profile
MWF 1
According to E.B. White, "Analyzing Humor is like dissecting a frog; that is, it can be done, but the frog tends to die in the process." In this course, we are going to try to kill frogs. We will investigate American literary humor both historically and theoretically. Readings will probably include: Washington Irving, from The Sketchbook; Frances Miriam Whitcher, The Widow Bedott Papers; James Lowell, The Bigelow Papers; Caroline Kirkland, from A New Home--Who'll Follow?, Herman Melville, The Confidence Man, "I and My Chimney," "Cock-a-doodle-do!" "The Apple-tree Table," "Bartleby the Scrivener"; Sarah Willis Parton (Fanny Fern), "satires" from Fern Leaves; Harriet Beecher Stowe, Oldtown Fireside Stories; Edgar Allen Poe, selected satires, hoaxes, and burlesques; Mark Twain, Roughing It, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and selected short works; George Washington Harris, Sut Lovingood's Yarns; "John Phoenix," selected tales; Charles Farrar Brown, Artemus Ward: His Book; Marrietta Holley, My Opinions and Betsey Bobbet's or My Wayward Pardner; Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, selected stories; Charles Chesnutt, selected stories; Joel Chandler Harris, Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings; John Morreal, ed., The Philosophy of Laughter and Humor. Requirements: numerous short papers, regular attendance, faithful reading, energetic class participation. Prerequisites: a sense of humor and faith that some of the frogs will live. (Note: This is a course primarily for Benjamin Franklin Scholars. Others may enroll by permission of Prof. Camfield.)
updated 2006-02-20
