English 3340 Romanticism & 19^th Century American Literature

Fall 2016 Syllabus and Schedule

Dr. Anna Dunlap Higgins-Harrell

Academic 103L / a_higgins@gdn.edu / Office Hours: MTWR 9:00-11:00

Part One: The Course

The Rich Opportunities of this Literature Course

• The opportunity to gain an understanding of the literary trends of the 19^th century, their characteristics, and the ways in which they relate to earlier and later literary periods.
• The opportunity to become familiar with the biographical, bibliographic, and literary background of some fascinating 19^th century artists, and to read some great works written by them.
• The opportunity to showcase your understanding in discussion, exam, group, and individual formats.
• The opportunity to build your academic research skills and to synthesize research materials with course content by maintaining a class notebook and by preparing a portfolio project.

Required Texts

• Signet Classics/Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans
• Penguin Classics Nineteenth-Century Poetry
• Penguin’s The Portable American Realism Reader
• Signet Classics/Wharton’s House of Mirth

Course Assessment & Evaluation

· Participation Grade 25%

· Group Tableaux Vivant & Group Packet 25%

· Romanticism & 19^th Century Authors Portfolio Project 25%

· Cumulative Final Exam: Part One (25%) & Part Two (75%) 25%

Part Two: Policies & The Course Grade

Policies & Information

Class Policy: I expect you to act like you are in a 3000-level class, which means having fun while we learn! Don’t commit academic dishonesty or try to “milk Mama H.” If you miss class, email me and then text classmates to find out what you missed. Don’t duck out on your teams, or I will penalize you at my discretion. Late stuff is accepted, just penalized.

Information: If writing is not your strong point, plan your work ahead of time so that you can take advantage of the Student Success Center. Please see the Title IX and ADA Addendum at the end of our schedule.

Part Three: The Assigned Readings & Our Schedule

Assigned Reading (Tentative)

Last of the Mohicans (novel): See the schedule for assigned chapters & due dates

19^th-Century Poetry Anthology (Poems will be read & explicated in class—by Poetry Partners/more info forthcoming): See the schedule for the dates for each poet; here are the poems and the page numbers:

Longfellow’s “The Day is Done” (55-56)

Thoreau’s “Brother Where Dost Thou Dwell” (140-141)

Poe’s Raven “Annabel Lee” (115-116)

Whitman’s Song of Myself, Section 1 (165)

Dickinson’s poems number 657 (378)

Realism Reader (short fiction): See the schedule for due dates; here are the page numbers:

Twain’s ”Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” (3-8)

Harte’s “The Luck of Roaring Camp” (8-17)

King’s “La Grande Demosiselle” (110-115)

Dunbar-Nelson’s “The Goodness of Saint Rocque” (143-147)

Garland’s “The Return of a Private” (185-199)

Frederic’s “My Aunt Susan” (222-232)

Wynne’s “The Little Room” (274-285)

Zitkala-Sa’s “The Trial Path” (391-395)

Far’s “Mrs. Spring Fragrance” (438-448)

Crane’s “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” (347-356)

Chesnutt’s “The Wife of His Youth” (380-390)

Howell’s “Editha” (412-424)

Crane’s “The Men in the Storm” (451-456)

London’s “The Law of Life” (509-514)

Dunbar’s The Lynching of Jube Benson” (524-531)

Oskison’ “The Problem of Old Harjo” (531-537)

House Of Mirth (novel): See the schedule for assigned chapters & due dates

Tentative Schedule

August

R11 Welcome! Introduction to the course; syllabus review; names

Part One: Early 19^th Century Novel

T16 Early 19^th Century Literature

R18 James Fenimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans (Chapters 1-10 due)

Grade Hint: Almost all of the weight of our class comes at the end, so stay up with readings and work on projects as soon as I assign them; also, keep up with your class notebook. J

T23 Last of the Mohicans (Chapter 11-21 due)

R25 Last of the Mohicans (Chapters 22-33 due)

Part Two: 19^th Century Poetry

T30 19^th-Century Poetry Background; Poetry Partners Meetings begin (5 groups; plan for 15 minute Presentation + 15 “Side-Kicked” Discussion)

Grade Hint: As you prepare individual entries for your Portfolio, email them to me so I can check to see if content is “on target.” Also, I can advise you about your writing and whether or not I see a need for tutoring—or if you’re ready to teach a composition class yourself J

September

R1 Poetry Partners Meetings continue

Grade Hint: At some point in September, why don’t you make an appointment to see me in my office so we can have a “Tell it like it is” meeting: you and I will chat about your current participation grade; we will also talk honestly about your attitude toward the class and your effort in the class.

T6 Poetry Partners Meetings continue

R8 Fireside Poetry: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow + Transcendental Poetry: Henry David Thoreau

T13 Dark Romantic Poetry (Poe); Transitional Poetry (Whitman)

R15 Transitional Poetry (Dickinson); Discussion of Tableaux Vivant

Part Three: 19^th Short Fiction

T20 Regionalism & Local Color: Mark Twain & Bret Harte

R22 Grace Elizabeth King & Alice Dunbar-Nelson; Tableaux Vivant Meetings

T27 Realism: Hamlin Garland; Tableaux Vivant Meetings

R29 Harold Frederic & Madelene Yale Wynne

Grade Hint: You should have several entries for your Portfolio in rough draft by this point, if not in final draft form. J

October

T4 Zitkala-Sa & Sui Sin Far

R6 Stephen Crane; Tableaux Vivant Meetings

T11 Charles W. Chesnutt

R13 William Dean Howells; Tableaux Vivant Meetings

T18 Naturalism: Stephen Crane

R20 Jack London; Tableaux Vivant Meetings

T25 Paul Laurence Dunbar

R27 John M. Oskison; Tableaux Vivant Meetings

Part Four: Late 19^th Century Novel

November

T1 House of Mirth (Book One, Chapters 1-7)

R3 House of Mirth (Book One, Chapters 8-15); Tableaux Vivant Meetings

Grade Hint: Is that Portfolio almost complete? J

T8 House of Mirth (Book Two, Chapters 1-7); Tableaux Vivant Meetings

R10 House of Mirth (Chapters 8-14)

T15 Tableaux Vivants!

R17 Tableaus Vivants!

T22 Turn in 19^th Century American Authors Portfolio (12 authors); Final Exam Part One

R24 No Class; Thanksgiving Holiday

T29 Turn in Final Exam Part Two; Exam Party!

3340 Final Exam “Exit Conference”

Wednesday, December 7^th @ 10:15-12:15

Pick up graded Author Project & Final Exam

Addendum to Dr. Higgins-Harrell’s Syllabus

Title IX and ADA & 504

Title IX

Gordon State College is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.  If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences any of these incidents, know that you are not alone. All faculty members at Gordon State College are mandated reporters.  Any student reporting any type of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking must be made aware that any report made to a faculty member under the provisions of Title IX will be reported to the Title IX Coordinator or a Title IX Deputy Coordinator.  If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, you must contact the Counseling and Accessibility Services office, Room 212, Student Life Center.  The licensed counselors in the Counseling Office are able to provide confidential support.

Gordon State College does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy, parenting or related conditions.  Students seeking accommodations on the basis of pregnancy, parenting or related conditions should contact Counseling and Accessibility Services regarding the process of documenting pregnancy related issues and being approved for accommodations, including pregnancy related absences as defined under Title IX.

ADA and 504

If you have a documented disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and/or physical accessibility.  The Counseling and Accessibility Services office located in the Student Center, Room 212 can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in developing appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to all GSC programs and facilities.  Course requirements will not be waived, but accommodations may assist you in meeting the requirements.  For documentation requirements and for additional information, contact Counseling and Accessibility Services at 678-359-5585.