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English 11B/American Studies 150

Introduction to English II: American Literature and Culture to 1855

Judith Richardson

Lectures: TuTh 1:30-2:50, Econ 140

Office Hours:TBD

Office Location:Bldg 460 (Margaret Jacks Hall), Room 323

E-mail: Phone: 723-2724

Texts: The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volumes A (Beginnings to 1820) and B (1820-1865); they can be purchased together as “Package 1.” Eitherthe 9th edition (which is the most current edition) or the previous 8th edition is fine. Available at the Stanford Bookstore. An electronic edition is also available for purchase:

Unless otherwise noted, readings can be found in this anthology. Please have read the texts before the relevant class date. I will post more specific reading instructionfor each week on Canvas.

Schedule of Readings and Lectures

Week 1:

April 3: Introduction: America, Through the Looking Glass

April 5: Mount versus Hill: Some Colonial Models:

  • Thomas Morton, excerpts from New English Canaan
  • William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, all selections from Book I, and “The Remainder of Anno 1620”; “Mr. Morton of Merrymount”; “War with the Pequots”; and “A Horrible Truth” from Book II
  • John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity”

Week 2 (April 10th and 12th): Puritan Delights and Dilemmas

  • Edward Taylor, selections from Sermon VI (on Canvas) and selected poems
  • Anne Bradstreet, selected poems
  • Mary Rowlandson, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson
  • Cotton Mather, “The Wonders of the Invisible World”

Week 3 (April 17th and 19th): Enlightenments and 18th Century Selves

  • Jonathan Edwards, “Personal Narrative” and “A Divine and Supernatural Light”
  • Benjamin Franklin, “The Way to Wealth” and The Autobiography Parts I, II, and part of Part III

Week 4 (April 24th and 26th): Revolutionary Sentiments: Affection, Seduction, and the Female Subject

  • Phyllis Wheatley, selected poems
  • Hannah Foster, The Coquette; or, The History of Eliza Wharton

Week 5 (May 1st and3rd):Tell a Tale of Haunting

  • Washington Irving, “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
  • Edgar Allan Poe, “The Black Cat”

Week 6 (May 8thand10th): An American Romance

  • Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter

Week 7 (May 15th and 17th): Expansive Americans

  • Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Self-Reliance”
  • Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”

Week 8 (May 22nd and 24th): A Week in the Woods

  • Henry David Thoreau, Walden (selected chapters)

Week 9 (May 29th and 31st): Constricted Americans

  • Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
  • Harriet Jacobs, selections from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Week 10 (June 5th): Loopholes.

  • Herman Melville, “Bartleby, the Scrivener”

Requirements

  • Midterm essay, 5-7 pages, due Monday, May 7th (30%)
  • Final essay, 8-10 pages, due Monday, June 11th (45%)
  • Attendance and participation in lecture and section, including submission of any section assignments (e.g., responses or focus points). (25%)