PRE-1865.

This survey of American Literature will examine the most influential and significant writings of the United States, which were produced between the 15th century and the Civil War. The course is organized thematically, rather than chronologically. As such the texts we will read present the emergence of both a nation and its identity. 

POST-1865

This semester-long webcourse surveys American Literature from the end of the Civil War to the present. It explores key literary movements such as regionalism, realism, modernism, and postmodernism, considering the ways in which each author responds to and reflects the changing world around them. We will consider the texts in their eras and in conjunction with major themes, ultimately asking what is “American Literature?”

CAN BE USED AS PRE-1865 OR POST-1865 (SPRING 2026 ONLY) and DIVERSITY.

This semester-long webcourse examines political literature in the long nineteenth century, beginning with antebellum abolitionist texts and ending with representations of urban conditions at the beginning of the 20th century. Students will investigate how each text responds to their contemporary political landscape, socio- and geopolitical upheavals, and a shifting understanding of the role of the Federal government. Finally, students will consider how and why these texts continue to be relevant today.