This class will be offered at 9 am CST on Tuesdays starting in November and January.

This class can coordinate with my United States history course if desired.  

This 8 week, semester course will explore modern American Literature.  We will begin with the 2nd half of the 19th century, and trace the development on US literature into the 20th century.  This course will explore the historical context for each piece within the US, as well as the literary features of the writings.  We will read a variety of genres of writing from the most significant American writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Our focus each week will be a particular author or piece as representative of each greater literary movement.  Students will be expected to read outside of class and come to class prepared to discuss their reading.  There will be writing assignments each week that students can submit for additional feedback and assessment.  My classes are designed to be engaging and discussion based.  I teach the student the tools for literary analysis, and then guide them in exploring the literary elements and historical context for each piece we discuss in class.  This class is perfect for literary lovers, history lovers, or anyone just curious about American history and literary culture. 

I highly recommend you take my Literary Analysis Essay writing class prior or concurrent to this class to develop your literary analysis writing skills.  This class is ESL friendly.

From a former student, "Your literature classes really prepared me well for college but also continued developing my critical thinking skills, world view, and love of learning."

Week 1-Naturalism--London

Week 2-Modernism--Pound, Williams, Eliot

Week 3- Golden Age--Fitzgerald

Week 4- Harlem Renaissance--Hughes, Hurston

Week 5-Depression--Steinbeck, Faulkner

Week 6-War and Post War-Hemmingway

Week 7- Cold War--Miller

Week 8- Civil Rights--Ellison