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Topics in Women and Literature

ENGL 290.920
instructor(s):
MTWR 10:30-12

For centuries it was said, that a woman's place is in the home. In this course, we will examine the attics, cellars, garrets, parlors, convents, and harems in which women have been forced to reside. By looking at spaces that both imitate and frustrate the traditional notion of home, we will explore the ways in which women make use of their surroundings, often transforming them into powerful spaces. The works we will examine include some or all of the following: Marguerite Duras' "The Lover," Toni Morrison's "Paradise," Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," and Assia Djebar's "Women of Algiers in Their Apartment." We will also view films such as "Like Water for Chocolate," "Bagdad Cafe," "The Piano," and "Kama Sutra."

fulfills requirements