American Literature: From The Raven to The Road

American Literature is a well-rounded survey of the most pivotal texts in American literature from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. The texts that will be surveyed are those that have shaped and/or been shaped by the various cultural developments of America since circa 1845: including, but not limited to the Gilded Age, the Harlem Renaissance, the Red Scare, Southern Gothic, and the Beat Movement.

This 32-week course consists of four eight-week quarters. Each quarter, students will be required to complete a portfolio on the prompt which they have chosen to give special focus to during the quarter. This portfolio will consist of one creative writing piece that reflects the prompt (up to 500 words), one book review that relates to the prompt (500 – 1,000 words), and one research paper that logically answers the prompt (1,000 – 1,200 words). Students will meet via web conference weekly for a single seventy-five-minute recitation to discuss weekly readings. Each week, students will be assigned readings, related discussion questions, and a pre-recorded lecture. Students must participate in discussion board forums—this is the minor grade for the class. The teacher will provide appropriate guidelines to discuss, however, students will also be encouraged to think and speak freely in regards to assigned readings.

In the course of the year, students will have attended at least 30 recitations, participated in at least 28 online discussions forums, and completed four portfolios.

American Literature: From The Raven to The Road has a limited grade range (11-12). The reason for this limitation is the content of the Literature and reading level is better suited for older students. Also, I strongly feel that this course will prepare students to tackle the various, complex, and often dark worldviews which they will encounter once they head out to college or the workforce. It is better to prepare students for such things in the 11-12 grade range because it will be pertinent to their life situation. Furthermore, I want my students to tackle these ideas, via literature, with peers who are their own age and preparing themselves for similar situations.

Course Objectives:

1. To become proficient in discussing the movements and ideologies which have shaped America’s current culture.
2. To become well-rounded critical thinkers, specifically in relation to texts and their author’s intent.
3. To cultivate an interest in American cultural movements.
4. To develop the ability to interpret America’s past and present literary movements through a Christian worldview.
5. To develop the courage and ability to make a solid argument on behalf of the Christian worldview.

Texts:

If an ISBN is listed with the book or a specific version is listed, be sure to get that version.

• The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 2: 1865 to the Present, Shorter 8th Edition
• The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe—any edition will work
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Ignatius Critical Edition)
• Ignatius Study Guide for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• The Crucible by Arthur Miller
• The Road by Cormac McCarthy (ISBN: 9780307387899)
• Batman, The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
• MLA Handbook, 8th Edition

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