LFU:online

Department of American Studies Department of American Studies

Mag. Dr. Saskia Fürst Mag. Dr. Saskia Fürst

610006

American Literature: The Reality Trap: Race and Gender in the late 19th Century

PS 2

5

weekly

not applicable

English

To introduce the students to American Realism and Naturalism by analyzing selected literary works, particularly focusing on the intersection of race and gender.

In reaction to Romanticism, Realist authors wrote about the everyday, mundane experiences of life and the consequences thereof. Closely linked to Realism, Naturalist authors delved into the social conditions and norms that regulate (particularly lower class) human action. Within this framework, authors from these two schools of literature critically examine the often-tragic consequences of rigid race and gender structures in late 19th and early 20th century US society. The protagonists in the works by Edith Wharton, Kate Chopin, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Mark Twain seek to escape these constricting social boundaries, often through physical movement. While some are caught in the “trap,” others escape, but at what cost?

Introduction to the authors, class discussions, reflection on written and reading assignments

Active participation, reading and short writing assignments, term paper (10-15 pages)