Dr. Robinson

Office:   King 1

Phone:   391.4949 or 4950

e-mail: brobinson@abac.edu

 

** I reserve the right to alter the syllabus if circumstances warrant.

 

You are to complete all readings by the first day they appear in the syllabus.  You should expect a reading quiz on any assignment.  The purpose of this opportunity is to make certain that you keep up with the readings; falling behind will seriously impact your opportunity to be successful in this course.  I intend to give 12 quizzes during the term.  If you take all 12, you will drop the two lowest grades; if you take 11, you will drop the lowest grade.  Quizzes will cover assigned reading for the day and will begin promptly at 11:00; we will not wait for late arrivers to finish a quiz.

 

Please be aware that some writings may require several readings before you consider that you have mastered the text.  You are responsible for reading the headnotes to each work.  Questions on the quizzes will include information from headnotes.

 

 

Required text

Baym, et al. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 7th ed.  Vols. A and B

 

 

English 2131, Survey of American Literature to 1865

Tentative Schedule of Assignments

Week 1

8/17        course introduction; syllabus

The Problem of American Identity

The New Eden; American Mythmaking

8/18        end of drop-add period, 4:30

8/19        The New World and its Landscape

Smith, A Description of New England, 66; New England’s Trials, 69

                Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, 105-138                

               

Week 2

8/24        Rowlandson, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration, 235

8/26        Freneau, On Emigration to America and Peopling the Western Country, 742; On Mr. Paine’s Rights of Man, 748; Wheatley, “On Being Brought from Africa to America,” 752

 

Week 3

8/31        Bradstreet, The Prologue, 188; The Author to Her Book, 204; Before the Birth of One of Her

                Children, 205; Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, 212; To My Dear Children, 214        

9/2          cont.

                Byrd, The Secret Diary, 378

 

Week 4

9/7          Winthrop, A Model of Christian Charity, 147              

9/9          Crevecoeur, Letters from an American Farmer (Letter III), 596

 

Week 5

9/14        Examination 1

9/16        Forming the National Character

                Franklin, The Way to Wealth, 451

                               

Week 6

9/21        The Autobiography, 522-534

9/23        Occom: “A Short Narrative of My Life,” 440; Equiano, the Interesting Narrative, 674, all selections

 

Week 7

9/28        cont

                Identity essay due

9/30        Letters of John and Abigail Adams, 616

 

 

Week 8

10/5        Paine, Common Sense, 630-37; Jefferson, From the Declaration of Independence, 651

10/6        midterm; last day to withdraw without penalty

10/7        cont

 

Week 9

10/12     Irving, Rip Van Winkle, 953

10/14     Examination 2

 

Week 10

10/19     Fall Break; no class

10/21     Problems of American Selfhood

                Emerson, Fate, 1213

 

Week 11

10/26     meet at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture

10/28     meet at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture

           

Week 12

11/2        Hawthorne, The Minister’s Black Veil, 1311

                ELECTION DAY; PLEASE VOTE

11/4     Poe, Ligeia, 1543

 

Week 13

11/9        Douglass, Narrative of the Life, 2064

11/11     cont

                                                            

Week 14               

11/16     Thoreau, Walden, 1872-1924

11/18     cont                       

 

Week 15

11/23     Melville, Bartleby, 2363

11/25     Thanksgiving; no class

 

Week 16

11/30     Davis, Life in the Iron Mills, 2599

12/2        cont.

                Identity project due

                 

 

12/7        Final Examination, 10:15-12:15; covers reading and discussion since exam 2