ENGH 355: Recent American Fiction

ENGH 355-001: Recent American Fiction
(Fall 2022)

03:00 PM to 04:15 PM TR

Art & Design Building 2026

Section Information for Fall 2022

This course will cover novels published in the US in the twenty-first century, with a focus on the way fiction writers have responded to multiple waves of national change, from demographic shifts to linguistic transformations to media mutations. A few films may accompany the reading, along with some essays or other materials to help put the novels in context. The main work of the course, however, will be getting to know the fiction of this new century—figuring out what it teaches us about recent history, and learning the ways that history is, in turn, shaping how and what we read. Likely authors include, but are not limited to: Don DeLillo, Junot Díaz, Louise Erdrich, Jumpa Lahiri, Tommy Orange, Marilynne Robinson, and Colson Whitehead.

The course will require several essays written throughout the term. Depending on student interest, there may or may not be larger group projects as well.

Tags:

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

American short story writers and novelists from World War II to present, including Mailer, Barth, Cheever, Oates, Gass, Beattie, Updike, and Morrison. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: Satisfaction of University requirements in 100-level English and in Mason Core literature.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.