Vincent Giordano

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?”