Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

This module introduces students to the diversity of twentieth-century American literature, in the novel, short stories, poetry, and drama. It combines close reading, contextual materials, and relevant critical theories in order to develop sophisticated and multi-layered inerpretations of the primary texts.

The main objective of this module is to provide a general introduction to the wide range and extraordinarily rich diversity of the literatures of the United States of America in the twentieth century. Particular attention will be paid to the way in which literary texts record and respond to the social, political, and economic crises of the two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Cold War. Students will be encouraged to explore the different thematic preoccupations and formal strategies which develop from the various social and cultural experiences of Americans during the century. Questions of gender, class, ethnicity, and sexuality will be examined critically and contextually. Although the novel is given some priority as a genre, students will also study examples of short fiction, drama and poetry. Audio-visual materials will be introduced and discussed as appropriate, and students will have opportunities to hone their oral and written communication skills during workshop sessions.