The Slave and Neo-Slave Narrative

English 3921-001 (34985)Dr. Laila Amine

African American Literature

Spring 2013Office: Language 408D

Mon: 6:00 – 8:50pm in LANG 313Office hours: Mon 3-6pm

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS

Since the mid-1960s, dozens of African American novels have focused on slavery and slaves’ experiences, including Margaret Walker’s Jubilee (1966), Ernest Gaines’ The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1971), Gayl Jones’ Corregidora (1975), Octavia Butler’s Kindred (1979), and Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987). Below are some questions we will consider in the class:

  • What explains this new interest in slavery?
  • How do these contemporary texts align with or differ from actual nineteenth century slave narratives?
  • If the primary goal of slave narratives was to abolish slavery, do contemporary narratives of slavery also have some identifiable purposes?
  • To what extent do narratives written by male or female writers emphasize an experience of slavery that is gendered?
  • What images, symbols, and aesthetics do authors employ to reconstruct the past?

First, we will analyze two key antebellum slave narratives alongside recorded slaves’ testimonies, then we will read two acclaimed contemporary novels about slavery (or neo-slave narratives) and focus on narrative strategies that authors use to represent the “peculiar institution.”

REQUIRED TEXTS

Frederick Douglass’Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: Written by Himself(Oxford World’s Classics, 1999)

Harriet Jacob’s Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself (Simon & Brown, 2012)

Octavia Butler’s Kindred (Beacon Press, 1988)

Edward P. Jones’ The Known World (Amistad HarperCollins Publishers, 2004)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attendance and participation: Attendance is mandatory and is crucial to successful performance in this course. You are expected to come to every class fully prepared to ask and respond to questions about the reading. To allow for unexpected emergencies only, students will not be penalized for missing one class over the course of the semester. However, each additional absence, late arrival, or early departure will reduce the final grade in the course.

The day before each class, students will ask three questions about the reading on the discussion section of blackboard. Guidelines for these entries will be handed in class.

A midterm exam will be held in class and consists of identification questions about the reading, terminology introduced in class, short comprehension and analytical questions about the narratives.

A final examwill be structured like the midterm exam but will cover only the second part of the semester.

Each student will do a presentation in which they will apply a concept examined in class to a material of their choice. More information on presentations will be given in class.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

Class participation20%

Discussion questions20%

Class activities and quizzes20%

Midterm exam 15%

Final exam 15%

Presentation10%

IMPORTANT DATES

Jan 28th = Last day to drop:(W/WF must be assigned)

March 30th = First day to request “I” grade: must be passing

Note that dropping a class can have consequences regarding financial aid, make sure you check with a financial aid counselor about how and if dropping a class will affect your aid.

COURSE POLICY

Academic integrity: It is crucial that students inform themselves of the University’s regulations on academic integrity, before it affects them. Cheating, plagiarism, and other academic misconducts will be pursued. The guidelines on how to use and quote material can be accessed at the following link:

Incomplete for course grade: Only under the most extreme and exceptional circumstances can students petition for an incomplete. Please note that the grade of “Incomplete” (“I”) is given only when the work of the course is substantially completed and only if the student’s work is of passing quality at the time he or she petitions an “I.”

Special circumstances for make-up exams: To be fair to all students, make-up exams will not be given, except in the case of extreme emergencies (such as prolonged hospitalization for a severe illness). Permission must be obtained, if possible, before the exam and with all supporting documentation.

Disability Accommodations and Special Needs: Please let me know right away if you have any special needs that would need accommodation to make you more comfortable in this class. We can meet to discuss any special needs you may have. If your documentation needs to be updated you can find information and resources to contact on the following link:

Safe Space for Diversity and Open Communication: In this course, you are expected to keep an open mind while we discuss a wide range of topics that may sometimes be controversial. Students from all backgrounds – including by race, nationality and sexual orientation – are welcome and their opinions valued.

Communicating via E-mail: E-mail is the best way to contact me and I strive to respond quickly. Please be sure that messages are written formally with the a subject line that includes the course (e.g. “ENG4850: Question about exam”); Salutation (e.g. “Dear Dr. Amine”) at the beginning; Message (always mention the purpose of the e-mail in at least one full sentence, even if you are just submitting an attachment), Full name at the end (e.g. “Sincerely, Jane Smith”)

Classroom Policy on Electronic Devices: It is very important that you are engaged in this class and not distracted by any electronic devices such as a laptop computer, tablet, or cell phone. Generally, use of a laptopis not necessary in this class but if you do need to use one, please meet with me to discuss it.

RESOURCES

Learning center:

The learning center can help you understand your learning style, get you free tutoring, advise on time management, note taking, test taking strategies, test anxiety, speed reading, and provide you with exam prep materials (GMAT, GRE, LSAT, etc).

Career Center:

Counseling and testing services:

C&TS deals with well-being, career counseling, consultation, mental health screenings, etc.

Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities:

Office of Disability Accommodation:

Student Legal Services:

Student Health and Wellness Center:

READING SCHEDULE

Week 1 – Monday January 14th: Course syllabus and policies

Week 2 – Martin Luther King Day/ NO CLASSES

Week 3 – Monday January 28th: Philip Gould’s “The rise, development, and circulation of the slave narrative” and Dickson Bruce’s “Politics and political philosophy in the slave narrative”

Week 4 – Monday February 4th: Douglass’ entire narrative

Week 5 – Monday February 11th: Jacobs 1-80

Week 6 – Monday February 18th: Jacobs81-155

Week 7 – Monday February 25th: Jacobs 156-end

Week 8 – Monday March 4th:Exam

Week 9 – Monday March 11th:Butler 1-91

Week 10 – Monday March 18th:Butler 91-178

Week 11 – SPRING BREAK/ NO CLASSES

Week 12 –Monday April 1st: Butler 179-end

Week 13 – Monday April 8th: Jones 1-97

Week 14 – Monday April 15th: Jones 97-196

Week 15 – Monday April 22nd: Jones 196-290

Week 16 – Monday April 29th: Jones 290-end

Week 17 – Monday May 6th: Final Project due