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 two key parts of life, war and family, and points where they meet.  Texts on war will include Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, Ella Leffland’s Rumors of Peace, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five, Tim O’Brien’s Going After Cacciato and others. We’ll explore family matters through Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Pearl Abraham’s The Romance Reader, stories by John Edgar Wideman, and others. You’ll write a very short response paper for each book, and do some brief in-class writing each week. This writing will help direct and energize class discussions.  The final will be a take-home paper. 

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