ENG 341 - Colonial and Early National American Literature

The literatures of colonial America began almost immediately after contact between Europeans and Native Americans in the fifteenth century, disseminated in multiple languages across Europe. These earliest writings were advertisements for empire: tales of adventure, catalogues of wonders, justifications and warnings. By the seventeenth century, new immigrants and American-born settlers were creating a local literature for local consumption, including the great devotional works of the New England Puritans and the first examples of that long-lived American genre, the captivity narrative. This colonial period culminated in the eighteenth century’s American Enlightenment, which gave rise to the Revolution, and was soon followed by the first stirrings of literary nationalism in the early republic. Encompassing three hundred years of history and an international range of authors, this introductory course may include works translated into English and taking such representative forms as the memoir, travel narrative, sermon, and political tract, as well as the more expected literary genres of poetry, fiction, and drama. A reading-intensive course, it is designed to teach students about a crucial epoch in world history and American literature while creating an opportunity for students to practice reading and research skills in order to better prepare them for work in advances seminars.

General Education Requirements: Western Cultural Tradition and Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives

Prerequisites: 6 credits beyond ENG 101 (ENG 170 and ENG 222 recommended) or instructor permission

Course Typically Offered: Fall Even Years

Credits: 3