Unit 2: Literature 1750-1830

Week 3__________________________

Tuesday, Jan. 23–Writing Colonial Lives

Introduce Assignment Sheet: Exploded Analysis

In-Class Announcement: Study Abroad in Irland (Prof. Joseph Kelly)

Puritans vs. Franklin

Readings

• Section Introduction, “American Literature, 1750-1830”: 260-284 (also peruse timeline)–because there is a lot of reading, you can skim the section into and focus more on the actual readings
• Sub-section Introduction, “Writing Colonial Lives”: 285-290
• Benjamin Franklin, from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: 290-321

Thursday, January 25–Writing Colonial Lives

Readings

• Elizabeth Ashbridge, from Some Account of the Fore Part of the Life of Elizabeth Ashbridge: 322-335
• Olaudah Equiano, from The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: 359-371
• See readings related to in-class activity below (requires choosing one selection from the “American Contexts” section)

In-Class Activity

• American Contexts: ‘To Being the World Over Again’: The Emerging Idea of ‘America’: 372-411:  In the introduction to this “American Contexts” section, the authors ask: “What, finally, did ‘America mean; and what did it mean to be American”? For a range of authors, ‘America’ was an idea up for grabs, and this selection includes a range of voices that try to address core questions about rights, inclusion, and equality. Please choose one selection from this section, and be prepared to informally introduce it to the class and showcase one particular quote that you feel captures the essence of their response to what it means to be an “American,” and, in some cases, what threatens that ideal.

Week 4__________________________

Tuesday, January 30–Literature for a New Nation

Readings

Exploded Analysis Sample

• Sub-section Introduction, “Literature for a New Nation”: 413-420
• Phillip Freneau, Author Introduction: 421-423
  • “On the Emigration to America”: 423-425
  • “The Indian Burying Ground”: 426-427
• Phillis Wheatley, Author Introduction: 427-429
  • “On Being Brought from Africa to America”: 430
  • “To His Excellency General Washington”: 434-435
  • “On Imagination“: linked

In Class

• Practice Assignment 1, the “Exploded Analysis,” with an emphasis on building blocks of assignment (steps 1-4)

Thursday, Feb 1–Literature for a New Nation

Reading

•  Washington Irving, author note and “Rip Van Winkle”: 436-437 and 441-453

In Class

• Bring in drafts of “Exploded Analysis”

Assignment 1 Due Sunday, February 4 by 5pm in the designated OAKS Dropbox