Department of English

The last century saw enormous changes in nearly every aspect of life. In this course, we’ll read novels, one play and a few short stories that examine war and family. Texts on war will include Paul Fussel’s The Great War and Modern Memory, Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, Ella Leffland’s Rumors of Peace, Tim O’Brien’s Going After Cacciato, and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five.  For the family section, we’ll read Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying, Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night, Toni Morrison’s Beloved, John Edgar Wideman’s Brothers and Keepers, Pearl Abrahams’ The Romance Reader, Marilynn Robinson’s Housekeeping and a few shorter works. You’ll write a very short response paper for each book, and do some brief in-class writing each week.  The final will be a take-home paper. 

This course fulfills the Arts and Letters requirement for the College and LPS.